The most frequent cause of liver cancer development is damage to liver tissue and the progression to cirrhosis due to various factors, primarily Hepatitis B and C viruses, and chronic alcohol consumption. The main factors that increase the risk or directly cause liver cancer include:
* Hepatitis B, C, and D virus infections
* Cirrhosis (chronic inflammation and fibrosis of the liver due to various etiologies)
* Aflatoxin exposure (a toxin produced by the Aspergillus flavus fungus)
* Genetic or congenital metabolic diseases (e.g., Hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, Glycogen storage disease)
* Exposure to certain chemicals (e.g., nitrites, hydrocarbons, solvents)