South America Liver Cancer Treatment - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The South America liver cancer treatment market size was valued at USD 0.64 billion in 2025 and is estimated to grow from USD 0.75 billion in 2026 to reach USD 1.61 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 16.5% during the forecast period (2026-2031). This report is segmented by Cancer Type (Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Cholangiocarcinoma, Hepatoblastoma, Others), Therapy (Targeted, Radiation, Immunotherapy, Chemotherapy, Others), End User (Hospitals, Specialty Cancer Centres, Research Institutes, Ambulatory Centres), and Geography (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Rest of South America). Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

South America Liver Cancer Treatment Market Trends and Insights

Expansion of Immuno-Oncology Regimens and Locoregional Therapy Use

Immunotherapy replaced sorafenib as the primary first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma at better-resourced centers in the South American liver cancer treatment market. A 2025 Brazilian multicenter cohort across 14 centers in 11 states found that atezolizumab plus bevacizumab accounted for 77.9% of first-line regimens. Median overall survival was 14.7 months and reached 20.6 months among patients with Child-Pugh A liver function. A Latin American study across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia reported a median overall survival of 17.0 months for atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in routine care.

Locoregional treatment also evolved as providers increasingly combined transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with systemic therapies. A 2025 review of randomized studies found that TACE plus immunotherapy reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 37% and improved the objective response rate by 53%. EMERALD-1 reported median progression-free survival of 15.0 months with durvalumab and bevacizumab plus TACE, compared with 8.2 months with TACE alone. Real Hospital Português in Recife introduced a Y-90 dosimetry platform in June 2025 and treated 11 patients with liver cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. However, the 48% serious adverse-event rate in EMERALD-1 highlighted the need for experienced multidisciplinary teams.

Rising Hepatitis-Associated Liver Cancer Burden

Viral hepatitis remained a major driver of treatment demand in the South America liver cancer treatment market. Hepatitis B accounted for 38% of hepatocellular carcinoma cases in Brazil and 34% in Peru. The Amazon Basin represented 30% of South America’s estimated 4 million hepatitis B carriers, while some Indigenous communities reported seroprevalence above 9.4%. Brazil’s disease burden model projected that hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma and decompensated cirrhosis would peak between 2028 and 2032, increasing the need for surveillance, early diagnosis, and timely referral.

Brazil’s Ministry of Health reported in July 2026 that viral hepatitis remained a public health priority. Patients without antiviral management often presented with advanced disease, including macrovascular invasion or extrahepatic spread, making systemic therapy the only practical treatment option. This pattern was particularly significant in Peru and Bolivia, where hepatitis B-endemic communities had limited access to ultrasound or alpha-fetoprotein surveillance. Late presentation restricted curative treatment options and increased reliance on high-cost systemic regimens.

High Cost of Combination Immunotherapies and Fragmented Access

High first-line combination immunotherapy costs restrict access in the South American liver cancer treatment market. Approximately 75% of Brazilians rely on the public healthcare system, which also serves large patient populations in Colombia, Peru, and Chile. An ISPOR Europe 2025 analysis reported total care costs of BRL 498,183,754 (USD 965,865,70.95) for 945 incident hepatocellular carcinoma patients receiving atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in Brazil’s private healthcare system, with drug acquisition representing the primary cost component. Budget constraints often limit public formularies to sorafenib or lenvatinib monotherapy, restricting access to regimens associated with improved survival outcomes. The gap between public and private care also limits the relevance of available clinical evidence for public-sector decision-makers. Private-sector studies typically include patients with Child-Pugh A liver function and good performance status, whereas public-system patients often present with more advanced liver dysfunction.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• Broader Availability of Biomarker-Driven Treatments
• Multidisciplinary Care and Real-World Evidence in Reimbursement
• Unequal Interventional Oncology Infrastructure and Delayed Diagnosis

Segment Analysis

Hepatocellular carcinoma held 74.88% of the South America liver cancer treatment market revenue by cancer type in 2025. Its scale reflects the regional burden of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcohol-related cirrhosis, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. A Brazilian multicenter study found that 77% of patients presented with BCLC-C disease, while first-line atezolizumab plus bevacizumab achieved a median overall survival of 15.9 months. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma accounted for 15% of primary liver cancers, with 70% of Brazilian biliary tract cancer patients diagnosed at locally advanced or metastatic stages.

Hepatoblastoma is forecast to be the fastest-growing cancer-type segment, at a 19.18% CAGR through 2031. Growth reflects a low base and continued investment in pediatric oncology care, despite persistently high mortality among Brazilian children under 5 years of age. Brazil’s INCA-affiliated pediatric centers use the SIOPEL approach, combining preoperative cisplatin with surgery or liver transplantation for unresectable cases. PHITT consortium guidance, along with research on beta-catenin and GPC3, may expand future treatment options.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Cancer Type
  • Hepatocellular Carcinoma
  • Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
  • Hepatoblastoma
  • Other Primary Liver Cancers
• By Therapy
  • Targeted Therapy
  • Radiation Therapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Other Therapies
• By End User
  • Hospitals and Clinics
  • Specialty Cancer Centres
  • Academic and Research Institutes
  • Ambulatory Infusion Centres
  • Others
• By Geography
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Peru
  • Rest of South America

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• Amgen
• Astellas Pharma
• AstraZeneca
• Bayer
• Blau Farmaceutica S.A.
• Boston Scientific
• Bristol-Myers Squibb
• Eisai
• Eli Lilly and Company
• Eurofarma Laboratorios S.A.
• Exelixis, Inc.
• Roche
• Fresenius
• Ipsen Pharma SAS
• Johnson & Johnson
• mAbxience
• Merck
• Novartis
• Pfizer
• Servier SAS
• Terumo

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support