Present and future possibilities for early diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) claims half a million lives across the globe each year. It is the sixth most common cancer in the world and is the third most common cause of cancer related mortality.Ultra-Sonography (US) is the most popular method for HCC screening. Serum markers like Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and Des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) are commonly used in diagnosis of HCC.The only proven potentially curative therapy for HCC remains surgical either hepatic resection, or liver transplantation. Other nonsurgical therapies like ethanol injection, chemoembolization using lipiodol, Radiofrequency ablation, and microwave coagulation system are in clinical use..