Liver cancer 5-year relative survival in Taizhou increased from 5.56% to 37.32% between 2004 and 2019-2023

This retrospective cohort study evaluated temporal trends in survival for 12,032 liver cancer patients diagnosed in Taizhou, eastern China, between 2004 and 2023. The analysis compared age-standardized 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year relative survival (RS) rates across four distinct periods: 2004-2008, 2009-2013, 2014-2018, and 2019-2023. No specific medications or interventions were isolated as the primary exposure; rather, the study focused on population-level temporal changes.

Main results indicated a substantial increase in 5-year relative survival over the study duration. In the 2019-2023 period, the 5-year relative survival rate was 37.32%, which significantly exceeded earlier periods. The rate for the 2014-2023 period was 29.13%, while the 2009-2023 period showed 23.00%, and the earliest 2004-2023 period recorded a rate of 5.56%.

Subgroup analyses revealed variations by demographic factors. In the 2019-2023 period, 5-year relative survival was 39.23% for females and 37.26% for males. Survival rates declined with increasing age, with 45.71% observed in patients aged 74 years. Additionally, urban residence was associated with a slightly higher rate of 37.83% compared to 37.25% for rural residents.

Adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability were not reported, as the study focused on survival outcomes rather than treatment-specific toxicity. A key limitation is that population-based survival data in China remain scarce, particularly for multi-decade analyses. Consequently, these results provide a benchmark for screening programs but do not establish causal links to specific clinical interventions.