Causes of primary liver cancer

Primary liver cancer is quite rare in the UK and the rest of the Western world, but the number of people developing it is increasing. Around 2,800 people in the UK are diagnosed each year. In other parts of the world, such as some parts of Africa and Asia, it’s one of the most common cancers. It is twice as common in men as in women.

The exact cause of primary liver cancer isn’t known, though some factors may slightly increase a person’s risk of developing it. These include cirrhosis (scarring to the liver), infection, inherited medical conditions, and a poison called aflatoxin.

Like other cancers, primary liver cancer isn’t infectious and can’t be passed on to other people.

 

Cirrhosis Back to top

This is scarring throughout the liver which can be due to a variety of causes. These include infection, heavy alcohol drinking over a long period of time, and a few rare conditions, such as haemochromatosis and primary biliary cirrhosis. Cirrhosis of the liver increases the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, and the risk varies depending on the cause of the cirrhosis. However, only a small number of people with cirrhosis of the liver develop primary liver cancer.

Infection Back to top

Infection with either the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus can lead to liver cancer and can also cause cirrhosis, which increases the risk of HCC. People with hepatitis B or C should avoid excessive amounts of alcohol, as this can further increase their risk of primary liver cancer.

Inherited medical conditions Back to top

Primary liver cancer is not caused by an inherited faulty gene, and so members of your family are highly unlikely to be at an increased risk of developing it because you have it.

However, people who have an inherited condition, such as haemochromatosis (which causes excess deposits of iron in the body), or tyrosinaemia, (where people have too much of an amino acid called tyrosine in their blood), have a higher chance of developing cirrhosis and HCC.

Aflatoxin Back to top

In Africa and Asia a poison called aflatoxin is a major cause of HCC. The poison is found in mouldy peanuts, wheat, soya and grain.

Other risk factors Back to top

People who take anabolic steroids over a long period of time have a slightly increased risk of developing primary liver cancer. Anabolic steroids are mainly used by body-builders as they can increase muscle bulk.