Diseases and Conditions
Liver cancer
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Prevention
Diagnosis
Treatment
Alternative medicine
Coping and support
Preparing for an appointment
Causes
Liver cancer happens when liver cells develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. A cell's DNA is the material that provides instructions for every chemical process in your body. DNA mutations cause changes in these instructions. One result is that cells may begin to grow out of control and eventually form a tumor — a mass of cancerous cells.
Sometimes the cause of liver cancer is known, such as with chronic hepatitis infections. But sometimes liver cancer happens in people with no underlying diseases and it's not clear what causes it.