Secondary Liver Cancer
Secondary Liver Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Outlook.
Disclaimer:
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Content is sourced from third parties, and we do not guarantee accuracy or accept any liability for its use. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical guidance.
What is Secondary Liver Cancer?
Secondary liver cancer, or liver metastases, occurs when cancer from another site spreads to the liver, the most common metastatic site due to its blood supply. Common primaries include colorectal (50%), breast, lung, pancreas, and stomach. In 2025, it affects 50-70% of advanced cancer patients, with multiple lesions common, impacting liver function.
Symptoms
Symptoms include upper right abdominal pain, jaundice, itching, ascites (swelling), fatigue, weight loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and fever. Advanced cases cause confusion (hepatic encephalopathy) or bleeding. Symptoms may be absent early.
Causes
Metastases result from primary cells traveling via portal vein or arteries to the liver. Risk increases with primaries like colorectal (50% metastasize). In 2025, tumor-secreted factors create pre-metastatic niches.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis uses ultrasound, CT/MRI (contrast-enhanced), PET, and biopsy. Blood tests (AFP, CEA) monitor. In 2025, AI and liquid biopsies improve specificity.
Treatment
Treatment includes surgery (resection for limited lesions), ablation (radiofrequency), embolization, radiation (SBRT), chemotherapy, and targeted/immunotherapy based on primary. In 2025, ADCs extend survival.
Future Outlook
In 2025, median survival is 6-18 months, varying by primary. Advances improve to 24 months. By 2030, immunotherapies could achieve 36 months.
Sources
The information for secondary liver cancer is sourced from Cancer Research UK’s “Secondary liver cancer” for understanding; Mayo Clinic’s “Liver metastases – Symptoms and causes” for symptoms; Cleveland Clinic’s “Liver Metastases” for treatment; NCI’s “Metastatic Liver Cancer” for causes; and PMC’s “Advances in Liver Metastases Management” for outlook.