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Liver cancer care at Dana-Farber Brigham 91精品 is led by a nationally recognized team of experts from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute—two of the top institutions in cancer treatment and research. Patients benefit from the collective expertise of a multidisciplinary team that includes liver surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, and hepatologists. These specialists work closely together to develop a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan for every patient. Through this collaborative approach, we offer access to the most advanced therapies, surgical techniques and clinical trials available.

The is part of the at Dana-Farber Brigham 91精品, where experts provide advanced care and lead the world’s largest study on preventing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our team also works closely with patients to explore whether clinical trials may be a good option as part of their treatment.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Liver Cancer

Locoregional Therapies

These treatments deliver therapy directly to the liver tumor to limit damage to healthy tissue and reduce side effects:

• Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE): Delivers chemotherapy drugs straight to the tumor and blocks its blood supply, helping the drugs stay in place longer.
• Radioembolization (Y-90): Injects tiny beads filled with radiation (yttrium-90) into the tumor’s blood vessels to shrink tumors from the inside.
• Electroporation Therapy: Uses electrical pulses to help anticancer drugs enter tumor cells more effectively.

Systemic Therapies

is a type of cancer treatment that works throughout the whole body. It includes treatments like chemotherapy, which travels in the blood to find and kill cancer cells wherever they are. These medicines can be given as a pill, through an IV, or by injection, and are often used when cancer has spread beyond one area. Depending on each person’s case, systemic therapies for liver cancer may include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of these treatments.

• Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy uses medicines designed to block specific changes in cancer cells that help them grow and survive. These drugs cause cancer cells to die while avoiding damage to healthy cells. Many targeted therapies are available for advanced liver cancer, especially if the cancer has spread or surgery is not an option. Because some of these drugs only work if the cancer has certain genetic features, doctors may test the tumor to see if targeted therapy could be effective. Sometimes targeted therapy is combined with chemotherapy to improve treatment.
• Immunotherapy: helps the body’s immune system find and attack liver cancer cells. Cancer cells can sometimes hide by using special proteins called checkpoints, which stop the immune system from attacking them. Checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that block these proteins, allowing the immune system to recognize and fight the cancer. This treatment is usually given to people with advanced liver cancer who cannot have surgery. Since the liver plays a special role in controlling the immune system, some liver cancers can trick the body into ignoring tumors, which may make immunotherapy less effective for certain cases.
• Chemotherapy: uses drugs to kill fast-growing cells, including cancer cells. It can be given through an IV or as pills. Chemotherapy may be used when surgery or other local treatments like ablation or embolization are not possible. While newer treatments like targeted therapy and immunotherapy are now often tried first, chemotherapy remains an option for patients who cannot have those treatments or when other therapies have been tried. Sometimes chemotherapy is given before surgery to shrink tumors (called neoadjuvant therapy) or after surgery to lower the chance of cancer returning (called adjuvant therapy). There is also a special method called hepatic arterial infusion, where a pump placed under the skin delivers high doses of chemotherapy directly to the liver’s main blood supply. This approach targets the tumor with fewer side effects and can be done on an outpatient basis.
• Clinical Trials: At Dana-Farber Brigham 91精品, patients may have the opportunity to join clinical trials testing new liver cancer treatments. These studies offer access to the latest medicines and therapies not yet widely available. Clinical trials may involve new drugs, improved radiation methods, or different treatment combinations. Patients taking part in trials receive close monitoring by experts to ensure their safety and the highest quality of care.

Minimally Invasive Interventions

For patients who are not eligible for surgery or transplant, or who need additional treatment, our experts offer a range of minimally invasive procedures that directly target liver tumors while preserving healthy tissue. These treatments are performed by our radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, and other specialists using advanced imaging and precision techniques.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or protons to destroy liver cancer cells while protecting the healthy tissue around them. It is often recommended when surgery or other treatments aren’t possible or haven’t worked well. This treatment can also help ease symptoms in advanced cases. During radiation therapy, you lie still on a table while a machine carefully directs beams of energy at the tumor. A special type called Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy focuses multiple beams on one spot to deliver more precise treatment. Radiation may be used when tumors cannot be removed or treated with other local methods, or if the cancer has spread to areas like the brain or bones. However, people with severe liver damage from conditions such as cirrhosis may not be able to have radiation because it could harm the liver further.

Tumor-Targeted Therapies

These approaches destroy tumors without removing them and are often used for small tumors or in patients with underlying liver disease:

• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): Uses electric currents to heat and kill cancer cells.
• Microwave Ablation (MWA): Applies high-frequency microwaves to destroy tumors.
• Cryoablation: Freezes tumors using very cold gas.
• Percutaneous Ethanol Injection: Injects alcohol directly into the tumor to damage and shrink it.

These procedures are image-guided and may be performed through the skin or with small incisions, offering faster recovery and fewer side effects compared to traditional surgery.

Histotripsy: A New Non-Invasive Option

Dana-Farber Brigham 91精品 is one of the few centers in the country offering histotripsy, an FDA-approved, non-invasive treatment for liver tumors. This innovative approach uses focused ultrasound waves to break down tumor tissue without surgery, needles, or radiation.

• No Incisions: Completely non-invasive, reducing risks of infection and complications.
• Quick Recovery: Most patients return home the same day.
• Precision Targeting: Destroys tumors while protecting healthy tissue and important structures like blood vessels.
• Immune Response Boost: Early studies suggest histotripsy may help stimulate the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells.

Surgical Treatment Options

At Dana-Farber Brigham 91精品, our surgical oncologists specialize in the latest minimally invasive techniques for rectal cancer. These approaches are based on current clinical guidelines and are designed to support a faster recovery, reduce complications, and improve outcomes. Our team is dedicated to providing expert care every step of the way. Learn more about our surgical treatment options and what to expect before, during, and after surgery.