Hidden epidemic: Metabolic disorders drive the next wave of liver cancer
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 22-Jun-2026 19:15 ET (22-Jun-2026 23:15 GMT/UTC)
A global review of liver cancer trends using GLOBOCAN 2022 and Global Burden of Disease data reveals a shift from viral hepatitis to metabolic disease as a leading cause. While incidence and mortality remain high, particularly in China, improved vaccination and treatment have reduced virus-related cases. Rising obesity and lifestyle risks now drive new cases. The study highlights prevention, early detection, and AI-driven care as critical strategies to curb future liver cancer burden worldwide.
At present, only around 5% of patients with colon cancer are candidates for immunotherapy. This new biomarker could make it possible to determine more accurately which individuals may receive this treatment with a likelihood of success and expand the number of patients who could benefit from it. The study, led by the Hospital del Mar Research Institute and IRB Barcelona, shows that the determination of this protein, CTHRC1, can be used to assess patient prognosis. At the same time, it opens up new avenues to approach this type of tumour. The research team has demonstrated that this biomarker can be detected using routine diagnostic tests in the clinical practice of any Pathology service.
SAN DIEGO, APRIL 13, 2026 ― Jennifer Wargo, M.D., professor of Surgical Oncology and Genomic Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has been elected to the 2026 class of Fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy in recognition of her pioneering work to define interactions between the microbiome, cancer biology and treatment response.