Causes

The cause of liver cancer is not known. Research shows that certain risk factors are associated with the disease.

Risk Factors

Factors that increase you chance of liver cancer include:

• Sex: male
• Age: 40 and older
• Infection with the hepatitis B virus or the hepatitis C virus
• Formation of scar tissue in the liver (called cirrhosis)
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Malnutrition
• Exposure to an infectious agent, such as a liver fluke (found in southern Pacific countries)
• Hemochromatosis (abnormal collection of iron in body tissues)
• Hereditary metabolic disorders such as AAT deficiency and tyrosinemia
• Exposure to certain chemicals:
  • Aflatoxin—a substance made by a fungus that often infects wheat, peanuts, soybeans, corn, and rice in tropical and subtropical regions
  • Vinyl chloride and thorium dioxide—chemicals that are strictly controlled
  • Anabolic steroids—male hormones sometimes given for medical reasons, but also taken by athletes to increase strength
  • Arsenic—a toxic chemical

Liver Cancer Due to Cirrhosis

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