# BCLC staging

Source: https://onco.cc/terms/bclc-staging/  
OnCo record `bclc-staging` (Term). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

The liver-cancer staging system that combines tumour size, liver function and fitness to recommend treatment: ablation or surgery, transplant, TACE, or drugs.

## Summary

Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stages 0/A (very early/early: ablation, resection, transplant), B (intermediate: TACE, or systemic therapy for high burden), C (advanced: systemic therapy) and D (terminal). The 2022 update introduced treatment-stage migration and systemic therapy for some BCLC-B patients. Used in guidelines worldwide and as a trial-eligibility framework.

## Fields

- Kind: Term
- Last checked: 2026-09-07

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatocellular_carcinoma
- Reig et al., BCLC strategy for prognosis prediction and treatment recommendation: the 2022 update (Journal of Hepatology 2022): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2021.11.018

## Connected records

- cancers: [Early hepatocellular carcinoma (BCLC 0 and A)](https://onco.cc/cancers/hcc-early/), [Hepatocellular carcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/hcc/), [Intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (BCLC B)](https://onco.cc/cancers/hcc-intermediate/)
- technologies: [Liver transplantation for cancer (Milan criteria and beyond)](https://onco.cc/technologies/liver-transplant-oncology/), [Thermal ablation (RFA, microwave, cryo)](https://onco.cc/technologies/thermal-ablation/), [Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE)](https://onco.cc/technologies/tace/)
- terms: [Child-Pugh and ALBI liver-function scores](https://onco.cc/terms/child-pugh-albi/), [Child-Pugh score](https://onco.cc/terms/child-pugh/), [Cirrhosis](https://onco.cc/terms/cirrhosis/), [Disease-specific staging and risk systems (FIGO, Ann Arbor, IPI, R-ISS, ELN, IMDC)](https://onco.cc/terms/staging-systems/), [Downstaging and conversion therapy](https://onco.cc/terms/downstaging/), [LI-RADS (Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System)](https://onco.cc/terms/li-rads/), [Portal vein tumour thrombus (macrovascular invasion)](https://onco.cc/terms/portal-vein-tumour-thrombus/), [TACE (transarterial chemoembolisation)](https://onco.cc/terms/tace-term/)

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