Hepatocellular carcinoma in Europe: a shifting epidemiological landscape

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which accounts for around 75–85% of primary liver cancers, is becoming an increasingly important health challenge in Europe. Although improvements in vaccination, antiviral treatment and hepatitis elimination programmes are reducing some virus-related disease, these gains are being offset by metabolic liver disease, high alcohol consumption and population ageing. The authors estimate that more than half of HCC cases may be preventable through better control of modifiable risk factors.