Treatment strategies for liver cancer

In the recent years, the 5-year survival rate of various treatment modalities for liver cancer have reached their upper limits.Cancer metastasis remains the key obstacle.The goal of liver cancer treatment in the 20th century was mainly cancer eradication, and is changing to the combination of eradication and modulation recently.Besides the cancer eradication modalities, many novel approaches emerged, such as the combination of cytokines, anti-inflammatory agents, molecular targeted agents, systemic interventions, and herbal compounds.Potential treatment strategies have also attracted attentions, such as microRNA, as well as "unrelated drugs" (such as rifampicin for tuberculosis) for treatment of liver cancer.Experimental studies revealed that metastatic potential was enhanced by conventional therapies, in which, epithelial-mesenchymal transition is the main mechanism.Studies on their intervention will further improve their response rate.Meanwhile, overtreatment should be avoided.Overall, cancer eradication remains the major approach, but modulation will be important supplements.