Liver Metastases Treatment in Singapore

What are Liver Metastases?

Liver metastases are the dissemination of tumor cells from other body parts to the liver. This happens when the tumor cells journey through the blood or lymphatic vessels into the liver. These metastases are not primary cancers. They are secondary because they originated from another organ before being transferred to the liver.

What is the Importance of Timely Treatment?

Prevents Further Spread
Early intervention can usually prevent further spread of the cancer from the liver to the rest of the body or from one site within the liver to another, thus making treatment more difficult.

Improves Prognosis
Early treatment increases the chances of a good prognosis as it helps shrink or control tumors to prolong survival and improve the quality of life.

Maximises Treatment Effectiveness
Early diagnosis is associated with much better efficacy of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or surgery because, at that point, the disease is amenable to intervention.

Prevents Complications
It can also help improve any organ dysfunction, jaundice or pain symptoms that have developed owing to untreated liver metastases.

Better Response to Surgery
Early detection of metastases, which have spread to the liver exclusively, could make them amenable to surgical excision of the liver portion involved, thereby offering a chance for cure or long-term control.

What are the Common Symptoms of Liver Metastases?

• Abdominal Pain or Discomfort
• Jaundice
• Unexplained Weight Loss
• Fatigue and Weakness
• Nausea and Vomiting

Causes and Risk Factors of Liver Metastases

Causes

• Spread from Primary Cancer
• Advanced Cancer Stage

Risk Factors

• Advanced Stage of Primary Cancer
• Type of Primary Cancer
• Liver Diseases
• Genetic Factors
• Gender and Hormone
• Immunocompromised State
• Lifestyle Factors

Latest Research and Technologies in the Treatment of Liver Metastases in Singapore

Treatment of liver metastasis has evolved with the infusion of newer technologies and personalised medicine. Of interest is the histotripsy trial, where histotripsy uses a form of ultrasound energy produced by high-intensity sound waves to generate microbubbles that effectively liquefy tumor tissues, leaving nearby typical structures unharmed. The combination of immunotherapy drugs and selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) resin microspheres has shown promising results for people with advanced liver cancers, improving the effectiveness of treatment while reducing adverse effects . From the perspective of artificial intelligence, AI-assisted Couinaud segmentation models offer improved precision and accuracy in liver surgeries and radiation therapy by enabling the complete delineation of liver sub-regions, thereby preserving healthy tissue and reducing the risk of recurrence.

Liver Metastases Prevention Tip:

• Early detection and screening programs ought to be offered to those with a high risk of developing liver metastases, that is, patients with a known history of previous cancers like colorectal, breast, or lung cancer, to help catch tumours before they metastasise to the liver.
• Healthy living habits such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, and avoiding excess alcohol consumption can all lower the chances of developing cancers likely to metastasise to the liver.
• Vaccination against hepatitis B and hepatitis C may lower the chance of developing liver cancer, which represents one of the sources of liver metastases.
• Controlling risk factors for primary cancers like obesity, diabetes, and pre-existing liver disorders such as cirrhosis, can minimise the risk of cancers where the secondary spread is to the liver.
• Administering treatment as soon as possible to contain the primary cancer prevents its spread into the liver. The follow-up after therapy of any primary cancer is primordial for an early diagnosis of metastasis.