BCLC strategy for prognosis prediction and treatment recommendations: The 2026 update
- Study type
- Clinical guideline
- Study name
- BCLC 2026
- Design
- Update of the BCLC (Barcelona) staging and treatment strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma
- Source
- J Hepatol · 2026
In plain words
The BCLC system is a way for doctors to set the stage of liver cancer based on the size and number of tumours, how healthy the liver is and the patient's general condition, and to suggest the right treatment for each stage. The 2026 version adds new treatments and stresses that treatment decisions should be made together with the patient, taking their own goals, circumstances and wishes into account.
Study population
Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma at all stages (0, A, B, C and D).
Endpoints
This paper is not a trial and has no endpoint.
Safety and side effects
The abstract reports no data on adverse events.
Clinical significance and place in guidelines
It replaces the 2022 update and is the most widely used framework worldwide for staging HCC and selecting treatment. According to published commentaries, this version recognises external-beam radiotherapy as an ablation option in very early-stage disease.
Limitations
The abstract does not give the recommendations for each stage; see the full paper for the complete algorithm.
This summary was prepared by the editorial team from the published paper; the original paper is the final reference. Read the original abstract on PubMed.