Preface

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks among the most common cancers worldwide, and is one of the leading causes of cancerrelated death. Over the last three decades, the age-adjusted incidence of HCC in the US has tripled, and it has rapidly become one of the most common causes of cancer-related death in white men. HCC continues to be a major cause of mortality in Asia as well, where the epidemic of hepatitis B contributes to the development of HCC. Worldwide, there are more than 600,000 cases of HCC every year, and the five year mortality is nearly 90%.