Combining loco-regional treatments in early hepatocellular carcinoma: new achievements overcoming old limitations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumor and one of the few malignant diseases that is still increasing around the world. Countless patients are stricken by HCC worldwide, and the tumor incidence is notably linked to the prevalence of other liver diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcohol abuse, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and any other disease that can cause liver cirrhosis. In the Western countries, it is estimated that more than one million people die due to HCC each year (1).