Liver cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, and it usually develops from chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis viruses, alcohol, or fatty liver disease. Scientists are exploring whether certain medications, supplements, and vaccines might prevent liver cancer from developing in people with damaged livers. This review looks at all the current evidence for these prevention strategies, examining which ones show promise and which ones need more research. The goal is to find ways to stop liver cancer before it ever starts, especially during the years when liver disease is developing but cancer hasn’t appeared yet.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether medications, supplements, vaccines, and other treatments can prevent liver cancer from developing in people with chronic liver disease
  • Who participated: This is a review article that analyzed research on many different groups of people with various types of liver disease, including those with hepatitis B and C, alcohol-related liver damage, and fatty liver disease
  • Key finding: Several prevention strategies show promise, including certain vaccines and medications, though the strength of evidence varies depending on the specific treatment and type of liver disease
  • What it means for you: If you have chronic liver disease, talk to your doctor about whether prevention strategies might be right for you. Some options like hepatitis B vaccination are well-established, while others need more research before doctors can recommend them widely

The Research Details

This is a review article, meaning the researchers didn’t conduct their own experiment. Instead, they carefully read and analyzed all the existing scientific studies about preventing liver cancer in people with chronic liver disease. They looked at three main types of prevention strategies: vaccines (like hepatitis B vaccine), medications (pharmaceutical drugs), and dietary supplements. By reviewing all this research together, they could see which prevention methods have the strongest evidence supporting them and which ones need more study.

The researchers examined studies on different causes of liver disease, including viral hepatitis infections (hepatitis B and C), damage from alcohol use, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (a condition where fat builds up in the liver). This comprehensive approach helps doctors understand what prevention options might work for different patients with different types of liver disease.

A review article is important because it brings together all the scattered research on a topic and helps doctors and patients understand the big picture. Instead of looking at one small study, reviewing many studies gives us a much clearer idea of what actually works. This type of research is especially valuable for prevention strategies, where we need to know which approaches are worth trying before someone gets sick

As a review article published in a respected medical journal (Hepatology Communications), this research synthesizes expert knowledge on an important topic. The quality depends on how thoroughly the researchers searched for studies and how carefully they evaluated each one. Review articles are generally considered reliable for understanding the current state of knowledge, though they don’t provide the strongest level of proof that individual clinical trials can offer. The fact that it was published in 2025 means it includes the most recent research available

What the Results Show

The review identifies several prevention strategies with varying levels of evidence. Hepatitis B vaccination appears to be one of the most established prevention methods, particularly for people at risk of hepatitis B infection. For people who already have hepatitis B, certain antiviral medications may help reduce the risk of liver cancer developing. The research also examines prevention strategies for people with hepatitis C and those with fatty liver disease, though the evidence for these groups is still developing.

The researchers found that the best prevention approach depends on what caused someone’s liver disease. Someone with hepatitis B might benefit from different prevention strategies than someone whose liver damage came from alcohol use or fatty liver disease. This personalized approach is important because it means doctors need to tailor prevention plans to each patient’s specific situation.

The review also considers dietary supplements and other natural approaches, though the evidence for these is generally weaker than for vaccines and medications. Some supplements show promise in early research, but they need more rigorous testing before doctors can confidently recommend them for preventing liver cancer.

The research highlights that the period between when someone develops chronic liver disease and when liver cancer might develop is often many years. This long window of time is actually good news for prevention—it means there’s a substantial opportunity to intervene with preventive treatments before cancer appears. The review also emphasizes that prevention strategies work best when combined with other approaches, like treating the underlying liver disease and monitoring patients regularly for early signs of cancer

This review builds on decades of research into liver cancer prevention. Previous studies have established that certain vaccines and medications can reduce cancer risk, and this review confirms and updates that knowledge with the latest evidence. The inclusion of newer research on fatty liver disease reflects growing recognition that this condition is becoming an increasingly common cause of liver cancer, especially in developed countries. The review also incorporates recent advances in understanding how different prevention strategies work at the biological level

As a review article, this research is limited by the quality and quantity of studies available on each prevention strategy. Some prevention approaches have been studied extensively, while others have limited research. The review cannot prove that any single strategy definitely prevents liver cancer—that would require large, long-term clinical trials. Additionally, most research has focused on people with hepatitis B and C, so there’s less evidence for preventing liver cancer in people with other causes of liver disease. The review also notes that many studies were conducted in specific populations or countries, so results might not apply equally to everyone

The Bottom Line

If you have chronic liver disease, discuss prevention strategies with your liver specialist. Hepatitis B vaccination is strongly recommended for people at risk and shows clear benefits (high confidence). For people with existing hepatitis B, antiviral medications may reduce cancer risk and are often recommended as part of standard treatment (moderate to high confidence). For other types of liver disease, prevention strategies are still being studied, so recommendations may vary based on your specific situation (lower confidence). Regular monitoring and screening for early signs of liver cancer remain important regardless of which prevention strategy you use

This research matters most for people with chronic liver disease from any cause—hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcohol-related damage, or fatty liver disease. It’s also relevant for people at high risk of developing liver disease. Healthcare providers caring for these patients should be aware of available prevention options. Family members of people with hepatitis B might benefit from vaccination. People without liver disease don’t need to worry about these prevention strategies, though maintaining liver health through moderate alcohol use and healthy weight is always good advice

Prevention strategies work over months to years, not days or weeks. Vaccines typically provide protection within weeks to months. Medications and supplements need to be taken consistently over extended periods—often years—to show their full benefit in reducing cancer risk. Some people might see improvements in liver function within months, but the main goal of preventing cancer development takes much longer to evaluate. This is why regular follow-up with your doctor is important to monitor whether prevention strategies are working for you

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track medication adherence for any prescribed prevention medications (such as antiviral drugs), recording daily doses taken. Also log any liver function test results from doctor visits, noting dates and key values like ALT and AST levels
  • Set daily reminders for taking prescribed prevention medications at the same time each day. Schedule and track regular doctor appointments for liver monitoring and screening tests. Log lifestyle changes that support liver health, such as alcohol avoidance or weight management progress
  • Create a long-term tracking dashboard showing medication adherence over months, liver function test trends over time, and appointment completion rates. Set quarterly check-in reminders to review progress with your healthcare provider and adjust prevention strategies if needed

This review summarizes current scientific evidence about preventing liver cancer, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Prevention strategies should only be started under the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider, preferably a liver specialist, who can evaluate your individual risk factors and medical history. The effectiveness of prevention strategies varies from person to person, and what works for one patient may not work for another. Always consult with your doctor before starting any new medication, supplement, or prevention strategy. This information is for educational purposes and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or replace professional medical care.