The incidence of hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is increasing, possibly due to the relationship between cirrhosis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C and HCC. The prognosis for this kind of cancer is poor.
There have been a number of cases of spontaneous remission of HCC reported in the medical literature that consist of the regression of tumors without apparent reason. The present authors report one such case, in which their patient had spontaneous disappearance of multiple HCC tumors without treatment. The diagnosis was proven by biopsy and radiography and the patient’s blood level of alpha fetoprotein (a blood marker of HCC) dropped without known cause.
Spontaneous remission of HCC has been reported in association with abstinence from alcohol, persistent fever, withdrawal of androgens, blood transfusion, drops in blood sugar, massive bleeding, rapid tumor growth, angiography, surgical trauma and the use of herbal therapies. In some cases, the remission has been permanent and in other cases the remission is temporary and followed by the return of the HCC.
CONCLUSION: There are a number of reported cases of the spontaneous remission of hepatocellular cancer (HCC) in the medical literature. The exact cause or mechanism is not known. Alpha fetoprotein is a marker of HCC that is seen to drop in spontaneous remission of HCC.
NOTE: There are a number of scientific theories behind the spontaneous remission of cancer. One is that there is a spontaneous change in the acid/base environment of the cancer, which changes the chemistry of the cells. Acid/base changes can alter rates of apoptosis (natural cell death of abnormal cells) and angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels needed for continued cancer growth). Vitamin D, at an adequate blood level, is needed for the normal process of apoptosis.
Read about the effect of silibinin on hepatocellular cancer.
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PMID: 17330700.
Summary #222.
