Everyone Healthy Library
Liver Cancer
Also Known As: Hepatic Cancer
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
Connected health information
Explore this condition in a clear order
Linked signs and symptoms
11Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
Linked drugs / medications
2Medication information is educational only. A doctor or pharmacist should advise whether any medicine is appropriate.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
6Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
51These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
- Acid Phosphatase Concentration
- Activated Coagulation Time (ACT)
- Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT)
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Concentration
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP, Serum AFP, Blood)
- Antithrombin 111 (AT-111) Activity Test
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Concentration
- Blood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Creatine Kinase Concentration
- D-Dimer Blood Test
- Eosinophils Count
- erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- Ferritin Concentration
- Fibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products, FSPs, Fibrin Breakdown Products, Fbps)
- Fibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrinogen Concentration test
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- Folic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- Gamma-Glutamyltransferase (GGT) Concentration
- haptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Heamatocrit (Hct)
- Hemoglobin (Hb) Concentration
- Human Placental Lactogen Concentration (hPL, Chorionic Somatomammotropin)
- Lactate Dehydrogenase Concentration
- lipase concentration
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
- Neutrophil Absolute Count
- Phenylketonuria Test
- Plasma Cell Concentration Test
- Plasminogen Activity
- Potassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Prothrombin Time (PT)
- Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
- Thrombin Time
- Thyroglobulin (Tg) Concentration
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration
- Thyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Urine bilirubin Concentration
- Urine Crystal Concentration
- Urine Sodium Quantitative (24hr)
- Vitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
- White Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Biological and test markers
52This visual map uses existing EH database links to show biological agents and lab markers reported as increased, decreased, or associated with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
35- Acid PhosphataseReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y), Male: 8.7–12.5 units/L; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 2.2–10.4 units/LLinked diagnostic tests1Acid Phosphatase Concentration
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 30–125 units/L; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 40–110 units/LLinked diagnostic tests1Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Concentration
- Alpha-Fetoprotein (Non-Pregnant, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 5–40 ng/mLLinked diagnostic tests1Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP, Serum AFP
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 10–25 units/L; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 10–35 units/LLinked diagnostic tests1Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Concentration
- Calcium Oxalate Crystals (Urine)Reference range exampleAll: 0–1 Not PresentLinked diagnostic tests1Urine Crystal Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid LeukocytesReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–5 /µL; 1y - 6y: 0–20 /µLLinked diagnostic tests1Cerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Neutrophil DifferentialReference range exampleAll: 0–5 %Linked diagnostic tests1Cerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Total ProteinReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 15–45 mg/dL; Child (< 10y): 15–70 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Coagulation Bleeding TimeReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 65–110 secondsLinked diagnostic tests1Activated Coagulation Time (ACT)
- D-DimerReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–240 µg/LLinked diagnostic tests1D-Dimer Blood Test
- EosinophilsReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–3 %; 0–3 %Linked diagnostic tests3Differential White Blood Cell Count Tests, Eosinophil Differential Of Total WBC
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation RateReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0–20 mm/Hr; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0–15 mm/HrLinked diagnostic tests1erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- FerritinReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 7–140 µg/L; Adult ( > 16y), Female: 18–160 µg/LLinked diagnostic tests1Ferritin Concentration
- Fibrin MonomersReference range example0–10,000 µg/LLinked diagnostic tests1Fibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrin Split ProductsReference range exampleAll: 0–1 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Fibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0.7–3.1 mg/mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0.35–2.5 mg/mLLinked diagnostic tests1Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- Gamma Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.8–1.7 gm/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Gamma-Glutamyltransferase (GGT)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 6–30 units/L; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 6–38 units/LLinked diagnostic tests1Gamma-Glutamyltransferase (GGT) Concentration
- Hemoglobin (Hb)Reference range exampleFemale: 78–100 gm/dL; Male: 76–100 gm/dLLinked diagnostic tests3Hemoglobin (Hb) Concentration, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Weight Test
- Human Placental Lactogen (hPL, Pregnancy Weaks 36 to 40)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 4,900–8,600 µg/LLinked diagnostic tests1Human Placental Lactogen Concentration (hPL, Chorionic Somatomammotropin)
- Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 120–250 units/L; Adult ( > 16y): 100–200 units/LLinked diagnostic tests1Lactate Dehydrogenase Concentration
- LipaseReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 10–140 units/LLinked diagnostic tests1lipase concentration
- PhenylalanineReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–16 mg/24hrs; Child (5 - 12y): 4–16.5 mg/24hrsLinked diagnostic tests1Phenylketonuria Test
- Plasma CellsLinked diagnostic tests1Plasma Cell Concentration Test
- Plasma thromboplastin antecedentReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 20–35 secondsLinked diagnostic tests1Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT)
- RBC MassReference range exampleFemale: 36–48 %; Male: 42–52 %Linked diagnostic tests1Heamatocrit (Hct)
- Red Blood Cell (RBC) VolumeReference range example76–100 fLLinked diagnostic tests1Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
- Red Blood Cells (RBC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 3.6–5 106/mm3; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 4.2–5.4 106/mm3Linked diagnostic tests1Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
- Segmented NeutrophilsReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 50–62 %; Adult ( > 16y): 2,500–8,000 mm3Linked diagnostic tests2Differential White Blood Cell Count Tests, Neutrophil Absolute Count
- Thrombin TimeReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 10–20 secondsLinked diagnostic tests1Thrombin Time
- Thyroglobulin (Tg)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y), Female: 0.4–5.6 ng/mL; Infant (0 - 1y), Male: 0.5–5.6 ng/mLLinked diagnostic tests1Thyroglobulin (Tg) Concentration
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0.021–0.11 µg/dL; Newborn (0 - 1month): 0.04–0.19 µg/dLLinked diagnostic tests2Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration, Urine B2 Microglobulin Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake PercentageReference range exampleAll: 25–38 %Linked diagnostic tests1Triiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Urine bilirubinReference range exampleAll: 0–0.02 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Urine bilirubin Concentration
- White Blood Cell (WBC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 4.5–10.5 million/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 3.2–10 million/mLLinked diagnostic tests1White Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Often decreased
17- Albumin (Blood)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 37–52 gm/dL; Infant (0 - 1y): 4.4–5.4 gm/dLLinked diagnostic tests2Blood Albumin Concentration, Protein Electrophoresis (Blood
- Alpha-1 Antintrypsin (AAT)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–215 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Antithrombin 111 (AT-111)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–110 %Linked diagnostic tests1Antithrombin 111 (AT-111) Activity Test
- Creatine Kinase (CK)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 35–150 units/L; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 40–170 units/LLinked diagnostic tests1Creatine Kinase Concentration
- FibrinogenReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 150–400 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Fibrinogen Concentration test
- Folic Acid (Folate)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 14–51 ng/mL; Child (0 - 16y): 5–21 ng/mLLinked diagnostic tests1Folic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- Glucose (Cerebrospinal Fluid)Reference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 65–85 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y): 50–72 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Cerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- haptoglobin (Hp)Reference range example45–200 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1haptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–125 mg/dL; 6y - 16y: 0–100 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- PlasminogenReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 65–153 %; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 70–120 %Linked diagnostic tests1Plasminogen Activity
- Potassium (K, Blood)AbbreviationKReference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 4.1–5.3 mEq/L; Child (0 - 16y): 3.4–4.7 mEq/LLinked diagnostic tests1Potassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- Thyroxine (Total T4)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 6–12 µg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 5–12 µg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Thyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3)Reference range example2.7–4.9 pg/mLLinked diagnostic tests1Triiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 1.1–2.43 ng/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 1–2.1 ng/mLLinked diagnostic tests1Triiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Uric Acid, BloodReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 2.5–7 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 4–8 mg/dLLinked diagnostic tests1Blood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- Urine SodiumReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 41–115 mmol/day; Adult ( > 16y): 40–220 mmol/dayLinked diagnostic tests1Urine Sodium Quantitative (24hr)
- Vitamin B12 (VB12)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 130–670 pmol/LLinked diagnostic tests1Vitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
Other associated markers
0No markers in this group.
Introduction / full article
Liver Cancer
Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:
Strychnos Nux-Vomica (Maqianzi, Poison Nut) [1, 9, 10, 11]:
WARNING! This substance is HIGHLY POISONOUS. The seeds contain Strychnine, which may cause convulsions, breathing difficulties and death, even if as little as 5 milligrams is ingested
Recommendation: Strongly against (There is no evidence in the form of clinical trials which report the effectiveness of Strychnos Nux-Vomica, because it is highly poisonous to humans, and is not recommended.)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Rabdosia Rubescens (Dong Ling Cao, Oridonin, Isodon Rubescens) [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: weakly in favor (Laboratory studies show that rabdosia rubescens has anti-cancer activity, and may be helpful in the treatment of liver cancer. However, more studies are needed)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Pau D'Arco (Lapachol, Tabebuia Impetiginosa, Tabebuia Heptaphylla) [1, 2]:
Please note, this treatment has potentially serious side effects. Some of the chemicals in the plant are known to be toxic. High doses are known to cause liver and kidney. Even at low doses, chemicals in the plant may interfere with blood clotting, causing excess bleeding and anaemia. Pau D'Arco should be avoided, especially by pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Recommendation: Strongly against (Laboratory tests have shown that Pau D'arco can be effective in the treatment of liver cancer. However, further studies are needed on its effect in humans. This, combined with its potentially harmful side effects if taken without supervision from a doctor or pharmacist gives enough reason to avoid this treatment.)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
* www.gradeworkinggroup.org
Summary References
Treatments:
1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009
2. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pau-d-arco
3. http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?fs=ND&pt=100&id=1140&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
4. http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/4/4/578.abstract
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15586232
6. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1140-RABDOSIA RUBESCENS.aspx?activeIngredientId=1140&activeIngredientName=RABDOSIA RUBESCENS
7. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/rabdosia-rubescens
8. http://alternativehealing.org/dong_ling_cao.htm
9. David Michael Wood et al. Case report: Survival after deliberate strychnine self-poisoning, with toxicokinetic data. Critical Care October 2002 Vol 6 No 5
10. Arnold, M.D., Harry L. (1968). Poisonous Plants of Hawaii. Tokyo, Japan: Charles E. Tuttle Co.. p. 20. ISBN 0804804745.
11. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/strychnos-nux-vomica