Fact 4: Vascular Invasion – An Alarm Bell
Vascular invasion is one of the more aggressive markers in the prognosis of HCC. At its core, it refers to the infiltration of cancerous cells into the liver’s blood vessels. While the term might seem somewhat clinical, its implications are profound.
Starting with the basics, our liver, like other organs, is sustained by a network of blood vessels. These vessels transport essential nutrients and oxygen to liver cells, ensuring they function effectively. However, when cancer cells invade these pathways, they gain a ticket to travel beyond the liver.
Such invasions amplify the risk of metastasis. Once cancer cells enter the bloodstream, they can travel to distant organs, potentially seeding new tumors. This can complicate treatment protocols as doctors aren’t just battling localized liver cancer but potential secondary tumors as well.
Furthermore, vascular invasion can compromise the liver’s function. These invasions can obstruct regular blood flow, depriving healthy liver cells of their vital sustenance, thus accelerating liver damage. (4)
