Secondary Liver Cancer: an Overview

Secondary liver cancer in adults is scientifically not liver cancer, rather it is a liver metastasis. Liver metastasis is a liver cancer that did not originate in the liver, but has spread to the organ through cancer that has started in another area of the body. These cancer cells are not liver cells, but are cells from the organ in which the cancer originated. Metastasis liver cancer is more common than primary liver cancer in most cases.

Since the cancer cells do not originate in the liver, it is often difficult to identify the early signs of liver metastasis, even if the cancer is discovered in the originating organ already. However, the symptoms of liver metastasis are common to those of primary liver cancer or any disease affecting the organ, like:

• Loss of appetite or sudden weight loss for no reason
• Dark urine and stool
• Swelling of the liver or a lump felt through the abdomen
• Pain in the upper right abdomen
• Jaundice

Since secondary liver cancer is the result of a primary cancer located elsewhere in the body, it is likely that the patient is already being treated or has been diagnosed with cancer, and is receiving regular check ups. For this reason, regular testing to monitor the primary cancer is common, but it is still recommended to seek immediate medical assistance if any health function appears abnormal, including the liver.

It is more common for a cancer located in another organ to metastasize to the liver than it is for cancer to form in this organ. Common cancers that are likely linked to metastasized liver cancer are those located in the following organs, to name just a few:

• Breast
• Colon
• Kidney
• Lung
• Pancreas
• Skin
• Esophagus
• Uterus

The process in which cancer cells metastasize to the liver commonly follows the same path as most other cancers. First, the cancer cells migrate from the primary location into healthy tissue close by (local invasion). Next, the cells move through the lymph nodes and blood vessels, into the lymphatic system and the bloodstream (intravasation). From here, the cells can quickly move throughout the body (circulation). They will stop migration when they reach a distant location with healthy cells and tissues, passing through the blood vessel walls and invading (arrest and extravasation). Much like in the originating location, the mutated cells then start to form small tumors, known as micrometastases (proliferation). Once these small tumors start to grow, they will form their own blood vessels in which they will receive the nutrients and oxygen from the body to continue to grow in size and spread (angiogenesis).

The tests to determine if metastasization has occurred in the liver are similar to those for primary liver cancer and will depend on a number of health factors. Unfortunately, more often than not, secondary liver cancer is the result of stage IV cancer. While there are many treatment options to consider, most are palliative and are not likely to result in the cure of this cancer, rather they will control the symptoms to prolong life. However, as modern medicine continues to rapidly accelerate, new treatment options are emerging. One day, the fight against cancer in the world may be over.