Metastatic Liver Cancer Stages

Metastatic cancer is the spread of cancer from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. Previously it was thought that only the malignant tumor cells and infections could metastasize. However, latest research has proved it otherwise.

Cancer is caused when a single cell in a tissue is genetically damaged which results in the formation of a cancer stem cell that possesses a malignant phenotype. These cancerous cells undergo uncontrolled, abnormal mitosis which causes the increase in the total number of cancer cells at that location.

The site where the cancer cells originated and became clinically detectable is called the primary tumor. Some cancer cells have the ability to penetrate and infiltrate surrounding normal tissues in the local area and form a new tumor.

The newly formed tumor is called local metastasis. When tumor cells metastasize the new tumor, what is formed is called secondary or metastatic tumor and the cells in the tumor are similar to the original tumor.

For example, if colon cancer metastasizes to the liver, the secondary tumor is made up of abnormal colon cells and not liver cells. The different stages of progress of the cancer become important in making decisions about the course of treatment to be followed.

The most common symptom is abdominal pain and fluid in the abdomen. Loss of appetite, fever and nausea are also said to be the symptoms of liver cancer. Symptoms like jaundice, with yellowing of the skin, and edema, which is swelling of the legs, can also point towards metastatic cancer of the liver.

There are several criteria which are used to establish the stages of the cancer. The main criteria in prognosis are the size of the tumor, location of cancer, whether the invasion of the cancerous cells is limited to one lobe or if it has spread to both the lobes of the liver, extent of the cancer, etc. There are four stages of liver cancer.

In this stage of liver cancer, the tumor is localized. The tumor can be removed surgically. The tumor size is 2 cm or less and it is located in a single area of the liver due to which it is simpler to remove it surgically.

In the second stage too, spread of cancer is localized and resection is possible. This is the stage where the cancer has spread to one or more locations but not to the adjacent lymph nodes or blood vessels. There are two possibilities in this stage - either there is a single tumor, which measures around 2 cm, or there are a few more tumors which measure 2 cm or less, all confined to one liver lobe.

This is an advanced stage and is divided into two sub-stages. In the III A stage, the cancer does not spread to other organs or lymph nodes but there are two ways the cancer has spread. There can be a single tumor, larger than 2 cm, which is present and the blood vessels surrounding the tumor are also affected.

There can be more than one tumor present in the same liver lobe and the adjacent blood vessels can be affected. In the III B stage, the tumors can be of any size and the blood may not necessarily be affected, but the cancer can spread to the adjacent lymph nodes, but they do not affect the other organs

Like is the case with Stage III, Stage IV is also divided into two sub-stages. In stage IV A, cancer can be present in both the liver lobes and it may also be spread to the adjacent lymph nodes and organs (apart from the gallbladder) and structures and it can grow into or around the main blood vessels.

Whereas in stage IV B, the cancer spreads to distal organs and lymph nodes, which are situated farthest from origin point. The life expectancy is very low at this stage.

Unfortunately, survival rates are very low,as it is only a matter of time, before the cancer progresses and spreads to new organs. Treatment for metastatic liver cancer involves chemotherapy and other medications; organ transplant may also be an option depending upon the spread of cancer.