A global liver cancer prevention and control report and action plan led by Chinese experts says effective intervention can prevent 60 percent of liver cancer cases. The report notes that metabolic issues like obesity and diabetes are becoming major health risks involving the liver, along with hepatitis B, C and alcohol consumption.

The report also suggests a three-tiered system for liver cancer prevention, screening and treatment. This includes encouraging hepatitis B and C vaccinations, a sugar tax, higher alcohol prices and health warnings on alcohol labels. It also suggests adding hepatic fibrosis screenings to regular health checks for obese or diabetic people, lowering screening costs, improving medication availability and enhancing disease management to improve the quality of life of liver cancer patients.

"About 60 percent of liver cancer can be prevented and controlled if measures are taken. Liver cancer cases and deaths can be reversed by 2050. This goal could prevent 8.8 million new cases and 7.7 million deaths worldwide," said Dr Fan Jia, president of Shanghai's Zhongshan Hospital, whose team worked with international specialists from 51 countries and regions on the report, which was published by the medical journal The Lancet.

Liver cancer has long been an issue for the global public health system. Approximately 870,000 new cases and 760,000 deaths from liver cancer are reported worldwide each year, with about 43 percent of these new cases occurring in China.

As the population ages, the number of new cases and deaths is projected to increase to 1.52 million and 1.37 million, respectively, by 2050 if effective measures are not implemented.