Liver cancer, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), significantly contributes to global cancer mortality, and Saudi Arabia's national cancer registry has provided crucial longitudinal data for a recent analysis.

The study examines liver cancer incidence and mortality trends in Saudi Arabia from 2001 to 2020, revealing a decreasing trend in male incidence rates while female rates remained stable.

In 2020, the incidence rate of liver cancer in males was nearly double that of females, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 1.8:1, indicating the presence of gender-specific risk factors in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Significant regional variability in liver cancer incidence suggests that environmental, socioeconomic, and healthcare factors influence disease prevalence across different areas of Saudi Arabia.

Emerging non-viral factors, such as metabolic syndrome and obesity, are increasingly linked to liver cancer, highlighting the need for comprehensive public health measures targeting these issues.

Saudi Arabia's liver cancer mortality underscores the necessity for enhanced healthcare strategies, including early detection and treatment protocols to improve patient outcomes.

Strengthening healthcare infrastructure and oncology services is essential to address the high mortality rates associated with liver cancer, particularly through improved access to specialized care and public awareness campaigns.

The study emphasizes the importance of more gender-tailored research and robust screening programs for high-risk populations to enhance early detection and improve survival rates.

The findings highlight the need for further research into gender-specific prevention strategies and targeted public health initiatives to reduce liver cancer incidence and mortality.

Insights from this extensive analysis provide valuable information for policymakers to prioritize cancer control programs and allocate resources effectively to combat liver cancer in Saudi Arabia and the broader region.

Notably, 76% of liver cancer cases diagnosed were of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma types, with nearly half of the patients presenting with advanced stages at diagnosis.

Data for this analysis was sourced from the Saudi Cancer Registry and compared with global and regional liver cancer statistics from organizations such as WHO and IARC.