CURRENT STATUS OF TREATMENT OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

This paper reviews the current status of treatment of hepatoceleular carcinoma (HCC). In early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment, great progress has been achieved since 1971 by using alpha fetoprotein (AFP) screening and monitoring. With the discovery of subclinical hepatocellular carcinoma (SCHCC) and the aggressive approach to symtomatic HCC, the prognosis has improved encouragingly, with the 5-year survival rate increasing from 2.6% in the 1960s to 20.6% from 1977-1982. New concepts of the natural history and staging of HCC, policy on and approach to the treatment of SCHCC, policy on treatment of moderate stage HCC, current status of treatment of late stage HCC, and latest trends and future prospects of the treatment of HCC are discussed in the paper.