Localized Resectable Adult Primary Liver Cancer

Treatment of localized resectable adult primary liver cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (partial hepatectomy).
• Surgery (total hepatectomy) and liver transplant.
• A clinical trial of regional or systemic chemotherapy or biologic therapy following surgery.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with localized resectable adult primary liver cancer.

Localized and Locally Advanced Unresectable Adult Primary Liver Cancer

Treatment of localized and locally advanced unresectable adult primary liver cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (cryosurgery or radiofrequency ablation).
• Chemotherapy (chemoembolization, regional chemotherapy, or systemic chemotherapy).
• Percutaneous ethanol injection.
• Surgery (total hepatectomy) and liver transplant.
• Radiation therapy with radiosensitizers.
• A clinical trial of a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Hyperthermia therapy may also be used. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used to shrink the tumor before surgery.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with localized unresectable adult primary liver cancer.

Advanced Adult Primary Liver Cancer

There is no standard treatment for advanced adult primary liver cancer. Patients may consider taking part in a clinical trial. Treatment may be a clinical trial of biologic therapy, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy with or without radiosensitizers. These treatments may be given as palliative therapy to help relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with advanced adult primary liver cancer.

Recurrent Adult Primary Liver Cancer

Treatment of recurrent adult primary liver cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (partial hepatectomy).
• Surgery (total hepatectomy) and liver transplant.
• Chemotherapy (chemoembolization or systemic chemotherapy).
• Percutaneous ethanol injection.
• A clinical trial of a new therapy.

Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with recurrent adult primary liver cancer.