843,045
New cases worldwide
Estimated primary liver cancer cases in 2024.
IARC, GLOBOCAN 2024
Molecular insights for liver cancer
Looking beyond conventional liver cancer blood markers.
The MoleculeDx Liver Cancer Fusion Predictor builds on circulating fusion-transcript research and a proprietary multi-marker approach to liver cancer screening.
The global and U.S. picture
Liver cancer remains a major public-health challenge.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer. The numbers below show the wider burden of liver cancer, including other primary liver cancers—not only HCC.
732,489
Deaths worldwide
Estimated liver cancer deaths in 2024; third among cancers by global mortality.
IARC, GLOBOCAN 2024
42,340
New U.S. cases projected
Estimated U.S. cases of liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer in 2026.
30,980
U.S. deaths projected
Estimated deaths from liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancers in 2026.
How to read these numbers: Global estimates are for 2024; U.S. projections are for 2026. Cancer-site categories encompass more than HCC alone, and the projected number of deaths should not be interpreted as the case-fatality rate for patients newly diagnosed that year.
Why it matters
Earlier information can support more informed care.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can develop without obvious early symptoms. For appropriate high-risk patients, regular surveillance matters.
01
Why conventional biomarkers have limits
Some patients with HCC have normal alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. AFP alone cannot rule out liver cancer.
02
A different molecular signal
Fusion transcripts are RNA molecules associated with certain genomic rearrangements. Selected signals have been investigated in HCC serum.
03
A multi-signal approach
The Liver Cancer Fusion Predictor builds on multi-marker research and applies a proprietary interpretation algorithm.
Why finding cancer earlier matters
Stage at diagnosis is closely linked to survival.
U.S. cancer-registry data illustrate how outcomes differ depending on how far liver or intrahepatic bile duct cancer has spread when it is diagnosed.
Five-year relative survival by stage
37.4%Localized at diagnosis
3.6%Distant (metastatic) stage
Across all stages, the five-year relative survival was 21.9%; approximately 45% of cases were diagnosed while localized.
Surveillance still faces important gaps
47%Pooled sensitivity of ultrasound alone for early-stage HCC in a 2018 meta-analysis of cirrhosis surveillance studies.
24%Pooled HCC surveillance use among patients with cirrhosis across 29 studies in a 2020 systematic review.
Sources: Tzartzeva et al., 2018 · Surveillance-use meta-analysis, 2020
These figures describe populations studied, not an individual patient's prognosis or the performance of the MoleculeDx test. Early detection can create treatment opportunities, but no screening test guarantees a particular outcome.
Who is at risk?
Risk is concentrated in people with certain liver conditions.
Important HCC risk factors include cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B or C, alcohol-associated liver disease, and metabolic liver disease. HCC can develop in some people with chronic hepatitis B even without cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis
Advanced liver scarring from multiple causes increases HCC risk.
Hepatitis B or C
Long-standing viral hepatitis is a major HCC risk factor. Individual surveillance eligibility varies.
Metabolic and alcohol-related liver disease
These conditions can progress to advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis and increase risk.
~6 months
Guideline-recommended surveillance interval
For eligible high-risk patients, AASLD recommends ultrasound plus AFP about every six months. Molecular blood testing should not replace guideline-directed surveillance or indicated diagnostic imaging.
Read the AASLD HCC Practice Guidance (2023) ↗Patient experience
A clear path from blood draw to results
1. Begin online
Start your order through the existing secure MoleculeDx booking portal.
2. Arrange collection
A qualified mobile phlebotomy service coordinates an appointment, subject to location and availability.
3. Review the findings
A molecular result should be discussed with a healthcare professional and interpreted alongside other clinical information.
Latest insights
From the MoleculeDx Journal
Educational articles about HCC surveillance, biomarkers, and molecular testing.
Why can liver cancer occur with normal AFP?
Why a normal protein biomarker does not exclude HCC and how different molecular signals may provide additional information.
Who should consider HCC surveillance?
Explore the roles of cirrhosis, hepatitis B and C, and family history.
What can a liver cancer blood test tell you?
Understand the differences between AFP, liver function tests, and emerging molecular markers.
Independent scientific sources
Epidemiology and surveillance references
These public, third-party sources support the population statistics above. Our laboratory's published research is discussed separately on For Providers.
- International Agency for Research on Cancer. Global Cancer Observatory: Liver cancer fact sheet, GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates (published 2026).
- American Cancer Society. Key Statistics About Liver Cancer; 2026 U.S. estimates.
- National Cancer Institute, SEER. Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer Stat Facts; survival and stage distribution (2016–2022).
- Tzartzeva K, et al. Surveillance Imaging and Alpha Fetoprotein for Early Detection of HCC in Patients With Cirrhosis: A Meta-analysis. Gastroenterology. 2018.
- Use of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance in Patients With Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2020.
- Singal AG, et al. AASLD Practice Guidance on Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Hepatology. 2023.
Ready to learn more?
Discuss appropriate HCC surveillance with your healthcare professional. Start an order through the secure MoleculeDx booking portal.