Timeline of liver cancer
This is a timeline of liver cancer, describing especially major discoveries and advances in treatment of the disease.
Big picture
Year/period |
Key developments |
|---|---|
19th century |
First recorded attempts of hepatic surgery. |
1960s |
Hepatitis B is found to be a leading cause of liver cancer. First liver transplant performed. |
1980s |
Tumor ablation develops. |
1990s |
Liver transplantation becomes a standard treatment for certain patients with liver cancer, extending life expectancy for years and sometimes leading to cure. |
2000s |
The introduction of sorafenib in considered to mark a new era of liver cancer research and treatments. Obesity is linked to liver cancer deaths. |
Recent years |
As of 2010, liver cancer resulted in 754,000 deaths, up from 460,000 in 1990, making it the third leading cause of cancer death after lung and stomach. Current treatment options for liver cancer are surgery, tumor ablation, tumor embolization, radiation therapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy. |
Full timeline
Year/period |
Type of event |
Event |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
1870 |
Development |
First hepatic surgery is performed. |
|
1911 |
Development |
The first anatomical resection for liver cancer is performed during a right lobectomy. |
|
1950 |
Organization |
The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases is founded as an organization of scientists and healthcare professionals committed to preventing and curing liver disease. |
United States |
1956 |
Discovery |
Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (a rare form of hepatocellular carcinoma that typically affects young adults) is first described. |
|
1957 |
Development |
The first comprehensive description of the liver, including the identification of its eight functional sections, is published. |
|
1963 |
Treatment |
First liver transplant is performed in a patient with liver cancer. |
|
1964 |
Development |
Researchers introduce the first effective strategy to assess how well the liver is working, an important factor in treatment decisions for liver cancer. |
|
1965 |
Treatment |
Radioactive isotope Yttrium-90 (Y90) is first used for the treatment of inoperable liver cancer, for which previously there are no treatment options. |
|
1966 |
Organization |
The European Association for the Study of Liver Diseases is founded. |
Marburg, Germany |
1968 |
Organization |
The Latin American Association for the Study of the Liver (ALEH) is founded. |
Sao Paulo, Brazil |
1973 |
Development |
Child-Pugh score system develops as a method used to assess the prognosis of chronic liver disease. The system, which remains in use today, considers the results of three specific blood tests, the presence of fluid in the abdomen and cognitive function. |
|
1975 |
Treatment |
Research shows that advanced liver cancers respond to single-[...] treatment with doxorubicin (Adriamycin). |
|
1981 |
Treatment |
United States FDA approves the first vaccine against hepatitis B, one of The Primary causes of liver cancer. |
United States |
1983 |
Treatment |
A new technique called tumor ablation helps patients who cannot undergo surgery by shrinking and, in some cases, destroying smaller liver tumors. |
|
1983 |
Treatment |
Ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injection in hepatic tumors is introduced. |
|
1989 |
Treatment |
Interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) for metastatic liver lesions is described. Since then, lasers are used to deliver local, controlled heat deposition in multiple organs. |
|
1991 |
Discovery |
Hepatitis C virus is first associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. |
|
1993 |
Treatment |
Percutaneous radio frequency ablation is introduced as a technique to treat liver tumors. The procedure is performed under ultrasound guidance. A small needle is inserted into the posterior aspect of the tumor, and ethanol is slowly injected into the lesion. |
|
1994 |
Development |
Researchers describe the infectious agent Helicobacter hepaticus and its role in causing active hepatitis and associated liver tumors in mice. |
|
1996 |
Treatment |
Research shows that liver transplantation is an effective treatment option for certain patients with cirrhosis and tumors that are confined to the liver. |
|
1998 |
Discovery |
Research links non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to increased liver cancer risk. |
|
2002 |
Discovery |
Researchers discover that liver cancers develop as a result of disruptions along multiple pathways, resulting in many genetically varied forms of liver cancer. |
|
2003 |
Discovery |
Study links obesity to higher risk of death from liver cancer, along with several other cancer types. |
United States |
2006 |
Organization |
The International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) is established. It is the only international organization devoted exclusively to liver cancer research for experts from all related disciplines. |
|
2007 |
Treatment |
Study shows that [...] sorafenib (Nexavar), extends the lives of patients with advanced, inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer. |
|
2008 |
Development |
New criteria provides detailed guidance to help doctors select patients most likely to benefit from liver transplants, based on tumor size, spread and response to previous therapy. |
|
2012 |
Organization |
The South Asian Association for the Study of the Liver is founded. |
Dhaka, Bangladesh |
2016 |
Discovery |
Study shows that liver cancer risk rises up to 10 times with low selenium levels in the blood. |
United States |
2016 |
Treatment |
Bayer’s Stivarga is found to improve liver cancer survival rates after trial. |
Germany |
See also
- Timeline of lung cancer
- Timeline of brain cancer
- Timeline of colorectal cancer
- Timeline of pancreatic cancer
- Timeline of cervical cancer
- Timeline of kidney cancer