Liver and Bile Duct Cancer

Abstract Background A continued rise of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence is noted. HCC main risk factors are hepatitis B, C, alcohol, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The majority of biliary tumors are adenocarcinomas. Biliary tumors have been classically understood as three different diseases: gallbladder cancer, extrahepatic, and intrahepatic biliary tumors, with different clinical and biological characteristics. Methods Presenting the basic scientific components and clinical premises is supplemented by a thorough review of the new oncoming data especially for advanced disease is reported. This particularly true for the incredible advents in the treatment of advanced HCC. Results Surgery, liver transplantation, and radiofrequency ablation (RFA), are the sole proven curative therapies for HCC. Locally advanced disease is generally treated with different forms of local therapies, including but not limited to, transarterial embolization, chemoembolization, radioembolization, and radiation therapy. Novel five tyrosine kinase inhibitors are now added to sorafenib, and two of them are already FDA approved, being lenvatinib and regorafenib. Checkpoint inhibitors and combination of checkpoint inhibitors is another key advent. For biliary cancers, a novel approach to differentiate the three diseases based on biology and pathways is evolving. Surgery remain the sole curative approach. Capecitabine is now validated as an adjuvant treatment after resection. Several mutational taregts are being further investigated for the treatment of biliary cancers, particularly cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer. Principal conclusions Screening programs for HCC continue to evolve. Pathology evaluation may help distinguish variants or combined HCC and cholangiocarcinoma. Novel therapies are helping move the field forward at a fast pace.