Primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Present state of the disease and prospects for the future.

Primary hepatocellular cancer is a common and virulent malignancy found all over the world. New insights into this disease are being provided by evaluation of the impact of epidemiologic data (hepatitis viral exposure, race, sex, HLA typing, and environmental factors). An enhanced appreciation of the biochemical modulators of hepatocellular cancer metabolism is now also possible. The limited success of current therapies is far from satisfactory, but prospects for the future seem more varied and promising than ever before.