Liver Cancer Program

Our approach to liver cancer care

You receive coordinated care from Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute specialists working together to support you every step of the way. Throughout the process, we make sure we understand your needs and preferences and answer all your questions.

Team-based liver cancer treatment

Your team meets regularly to discuss your treatment plan and progress, ensuring you receive the highest level of care. Your team may include:

• Endoscopists
• Hepatologists (liver doctors)
• Interventional radiologists
• Medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists
• Nutritionists
• Oncology nurses and nurse practitioners
• Oncology psychiatrists and social workers
• Palliative care providers
• Pathologists and diagnostic radiologists
• Transplant specialists

Expert cancer diagnostics and staging

Quick, accurate diagnosis is crucial to planning effective treatment. Our pathologists and radiologists use advanced diagnostic tools, including:

• 2D and 3D CT scans
• 3D imaging for presurgical planning
• Intraoperative ultrasounds
• Molecular imaging
• MRIs
• Combined PET/CT scans
• Spectral imaging with CT scans
• Tumor perfusion imaging with CT and MRI

Excellence in cancer surgery

Our liver cancer surgeons have pioneered many procedures that are now widely used. We’re experts in using minimally invasive techniques that help our patients recover faster and with a lower risk of complications. We perform hundreds of liver resections (removals) each year, more than anywhere else in the state.

In addition to liver resection, selected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or certain other liver tumors may be evaluated for liver transplant through our Liver Transplant Program.

Hepatic artery infusion pump

For selected patients whose colorectal cancer has spread primarily to the liver, hepatic artery infusion (HAI) pump therapy may be an option. This treatment delivers chemotherapy directly to the liver and is offered through a specialized program with experience in both surgical pump placement and ongoing medical management. Our program is currently the only one in the region offering this therapy.

Innovative medical treatments for liver cancer

Treatment plans may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapies based on tumor characteristics. Some targeted treatments are designed to interfere with specific genetic changes in cancer cells and may be used when appropriate to limit effects on healthy liver tissue.

Pioneering radiation therapies

Radiation oncologists use advanced techniques to precisely target liver tumors while minimizing exposure to surrounding tissue. Options may include:

• External beam radiation therapy: Radiation delivered from outside the body
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy: Radiation beams shaped to match tumor size and location
• Proton therapy: An advanced form of radiation that uses high-energy proton particles instead of X-rays to deliver precise treatment.