The third most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide and the sixth most common type of cancer is liver cancer. It primarily results from the interaction of metabolic stresses, such as obesity, viral hepatitis, and steatohepatitis, which is characterized by an engorged and fatty liver, and environmental variables.
Hepatocytes, the main cell type of the liver, die as a result of these stresses, which have a negative impact on the liver. The inflammation that results from this cell loss alerts the liver to start producing new hepatocytes. However, this sudden urge for cell growth also increases the likelihood of tumor development.