Everyone Healthy Library
Liver Cancer
Also Known As: Hepatic Cancer
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
! Seek urgent medical care if warning signs appear
Some health conditions or symptoms can become urgent. Use this page for education, but seek help quickly if warning signs are present.
Get urgent medical care now if there is any severe, sudden, rapidly worsening or worrying symptom, especially:
- chest pain, pressure or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back
- trouble breathing, blue lips, severe wheeze or choking
- stroke-like symptoms such as face drooping, arm weakness or speech trouble
- collapse, fainting, seizure, confusion or extreme drowsiness
- severe bleeding, black stools, vomiting blood or major injury
- severe allergic reaction, swelling of the face/throat or widespread rash with breathing trouble
- severe abdominal pain, severe headache, stiff neck or sudden vision change
- signs of severe dehydration, sepsis, high fever with worsening illness, or symptoms in a baby/young child that concern you
Connected health information
Explore this condition in a clear order
Linked signs and symptoms
11Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
Linked drugs / medications
2Medication information is educational only. A doctor or pharmacist should advise whether any medicine is appropriate.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
6Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
51These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
- Acid Phosphatase Concentration
- Activated Coagulation Time (ACT)
- Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT)
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Concentration
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP, Serum AFP, Blood)
- Antithrombin 111 (AT-111) Activity Test
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Concentration
- Blood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Creatine Kinase Concentration
- D-Dimer Blood Test
- Eosinophils Count
- erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- Ferritin Concentration
- Fibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products, FSPs, Fibrin Breakdown Products, Fbps)
- Fibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrinogen Concentration test
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- Folic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- Gamma-Glutamyltransferase (GGT) Concentration
- haptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Heamatocrit (Hct)
- Hemoglobin (Hb) Concentration
- Human Placental Lactogen Concentration (hPL, Chorionic Somatomammotropin)
- Lactate Dehydrogenase Concentration
- lipase concentration
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
- Neutrophil Absolute Count
- Phenylketonuria Test
- Plasma Cell Concentration Test
- Plasminogen Activity
- Potassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Prothrombin Time (PT)
- Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
- Thrombin Time
- Thyroglobulin (Tg) Concentration
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration
- Thyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Urine bilirubin Concentration
- Urine Crystal Concentration
- Urine Sodium Quantitative (24hr)
- Vitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
- White Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Biological markers/agents
52This visual map shows biological markers/agents reported as increased or decreased with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
35- Acid PhosphataseReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y), Male: 8.7–12.5 units/L; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 2.2–10.4 units/LLinked diagnostic testsAcid Phosphatase Concentration
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 30–125 units/L; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 40–110 units/LLinked diagnostic testsAlkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Concentration
- Alpha-Fetoprotein (Non-Pregnant, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 5–40 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsAlpha-Fetoprotein (AFP, Serum AFP
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 10–25 units/L; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 10–35 units/LLinked diagnostic testsAspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Concentration
- Calcium Oxalate Crystals (Urine)Reference range exampleAll: 0–1 Not PresentLinked diagnostic testsUrine Crystal Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid LeukocytesReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–5 /µL; 1y - 6y: 0–20 /µLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Neutrophil DifferentialReference range exampleAll: 0–5 %Linked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Total ProteinReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 15–45 mg/dL; Child (< 10y): 15–70 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Coagulation Bleeding TimeReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 65–110 secondsLinked diagnostic testsActivated Coagulation Time (ACT)
- D-DimerReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–240 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsD-Dimer Blood Test
- EosinophilsReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–3 %; 0–3 %Linked diagnostic testsDifferential White Blood Cell Count Tests, Eosinophil Differential Of Total WBC
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation RateReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0–20 mm/Hr; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0–15 mm/HrLinked diagnostic testserythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- FerritinReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 7–140 µg/L; Adult ( > 16y), Female: 18–160 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsFerritin Concentration
- Fibrin MonomersReference range example0–10,000 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsFibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrin Split ProductsReference range exampleAll: 0–1 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsFibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0.7–3.1 mg/mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0.35–2.5 mg/mLLinked diagnostic testsFibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- Gamma Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.8–1.7 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsProtein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Gamma-Glutamyltransferase (GGT)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 6–30 units/L; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 6–38 units/LLinked diagnostic testsGamma-Glutamyltransferase (GGT) Concentration
- Hemoglobin (Hb)Reference range exampleFemale: 78–100 gm/dL; Male: 76–100 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsHemoglobin (Hb) Concentration, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Weight Test
- Human Placental Lactogen (hPL, Pregnancy Weaks 36 to 40)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 4,900–8,600 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsHuman Placental Lactogen Concentration (hPL, Chorionic Somatomammotropin)
- Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 120–250 units/L; Adult ( > 16y): 100–200 units/LLinked diagnostic testsLactate Dehydrogenase Concentration
- LipaseReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 10–140 units/LLinked diagnostic testslipase concentration
- PhenylalanineReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–16 mg/24hrs; Child (5 - 12y): 4–16.5 mg/24hrsLinked diagnostic testsPhenylketonuria Test
- Plasma CellsLinked diagnostic testsPlasma Cell Concentration Test
- Plasma thromboplastin antecedentReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 20–35 secondsLinked diagnostic testsActivated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT)
- RBC MassReference range exampleFemale: 36–48 %; Male: 42–52 %Linked diagnostic testsHeamatocrit (Hct)
- Red Blood Cell (RBC) VolumeReference range example76–100 fLLinked diagnostic testsMean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
- Red Blood Cells (RBC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 3.6–5 106/mm3; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 4.2–5.4 106/mm3Linked diagnostic testsRed Blood Cell (RBC) Count
- Segmented NeutrophilsReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 50–62 %; Adult ( > 16y): 2,500–8,000 mm3Linked diagnostic testsDifferential White Blood Cell Count Tests, Neutrophil Absolute Count
- Thrombin TimeReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 10–20 secondsLinked diagnostic testsThrombin Time
- Thyroglobulin (Tg)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y), Female: 0.4–5.6 ng/mL; Infant (0 - 1y), Male: 0.5–5.6 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsThyroglobulin (Tg) Concentration
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0.021–0.11 µg/dL; Newborn (0 - 1month): 0.04–0.19 µg/dLLinked diagnostic testsThyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration, Urine B2 Microglobulin Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake PercentageReference range exampleAll: 25–38 %Linked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Urine bilirubinReference range exampleAll: 0–0.02 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsUrine bilirubin Concentration
- White Blood Cell (WBC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 4.5–10.5 million/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 3.2–10 million/mLLinked diagnostic testsWhite Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Often decreased
17- Albumin (Blood)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 37–52 gm/dL; Infant (0 - 1y): 4.4–5.4 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsBlood Albumin Concentration, Protein Electrophoresis (Blood
- Alpha-1 Antintrypsin (AAT)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–215 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsAlpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Antithrombin 111 (AT-111)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–110 %Linked diagnostic testsAntithrombin 111 (AT-111) Activity Test
- Creatine Kinase (CK)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 35–150 units/L; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 40–170 units/LLinked diagnostic testsCreatine Kinase Concentration
- FibrinogenReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 150–400 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsFibrinogen Concentration test
- Folic Acid (Folate)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 14–51 ng/mL; Child (0 - 16y): 5–21 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsFolic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- Glucose (Cerebrospinal Fluid)Reference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 65–85 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y): 50–72 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- haptoglobin (Hp)Reference range example45–200 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testshaptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–125 mg/dL; 6y - 16y: 0–100 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsLow Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- PlasminogenReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 65–153 %; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 70–120 %Linked diagnostic testsPlasminogen Activity
- Potassium (K, Blood)AbbreviationKReference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 4.1–5.3 mEq/L; Child (0 - 16y): 3.4–4.7 mEq/LLinked diagnostic testsPotassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- Thyroxine (Total T4)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 6–12 µg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 5–12 µg/dLLinked diagnostic testsThyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3)Reference range example2.7–4.9 pg/mLLinked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 1.1–2.43 ng/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 1–2.1 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Uric Acid, BloodReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 2.5–7 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 4–8 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsBlood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- Urine SodiumReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 41–115 mmol/day; Adult ( > 16y): 40–220 mmol/dayLinked diagnostic testsUrine Sodium Quantitative (24hr)
- Vitamin B12 (VB12)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 130–670 pmol/LLinked diagnostic testsVitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
Introduction / full article
Liver Cancer
Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:
Strychnos Nux-Vomica (Maqianzi, Poison Nut) [1, 9, 10, 11]:
WARNING! This substance is HIGHLY POISONOUS. The seeds contain Strychnine, which may cause convulsions, breathing difficulties and death, even if as little as 5 milligrams is ingested
Recommendation: Strongly against (There is no evidence in the form of clinical trials which report the effectiveness of Strychnos Nux-Vomica, because it is highly poisonous to humans, and is not recommended.)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Rabdosia Rubescens (Dong Ling Cao, Oridonin, Isodon Rubescens) [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: weakly in favor (Laboratory studies show that rabdosia rubescens has anti-cancer activity, and may be helpful in the treatment of liver cancer. However, more studies are needed)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Pau D'Arco (Lapachol, Tabebuia Impetiginosa, Tabebuia Heptaphylla) [1, 2]:
Please note, this treatment has potentially serious side effects. Some of the chemicals in the plant are known to be toxic. High doses are known to cause liver and kidney. Even at low doses, chemicals in the plant may interfere with blood clotting, causing excess bleeding and anaemia. Pau D'Arco should be avoided, especially by pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Recommendation: Strongly against (Laboratory tests have shown that Pau D'arco can be effective in the treatment of liver cancer. However, further studies are needed on its effect in humans. This, combined with its potentially harmful side effects if taken without supervision from a doctor or pharmacist gives enough reason to avoid this treatment.)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
* www.gradeworkinggroup.org
Summary References
Treatments:
1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009
2. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pau-d-arco
3. http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?fs=ND&pt=100&id=1140&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
4. http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/4/4/578.abstract
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15586232
6. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1140-RABDOSIA RUBESCENS.aspx?activeIngredientId=1140&activeIngredientName=RABDOSIA RUBESCENS
7. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/rabdosia-rubescens
8. http://alternativehealing.org/dong_ling_cao.htm
9. David Michael Wood et al. Case report: Survival after deliberate strychnine self-poisoning, with toxicokinetic data. Critical Care October 2002 Vol 6 No 5
10. Arnold, M.D., Harry L. (1968). Poisonous Plants of Hawaii. Tokyo, Japan: Charles E. Tuttle Co.. p. 20. ISBN 0804804745.
11. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/strychnos-nux-vomica