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Liver Cancer Chemotherapy Oncology Services

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center's oncologists offer a full range of therapies for all types and stages of liver cancer, including chemotherapy, regional perfusion and gene therapy.

Chemotherapy for Liver Cancer

In treating liver cancer, chemotherapy is often utilized alone or in combination with other techniques, such as radiation therapy, embolization, regional perfusion, and surgery.

  • For liver tumors that are too large for complete removal, chemotherapy may be given alone or in combination with radiation therapy prior to surgery (neoadjuvant treatment) to shrink the tumor for surgical removal.
  • Chemotherapy may also be given after surgery (adjuvantly), alone or in combination with radiation therapy.
  • For those whose tumors cannot be surgically removed, chemotherapy alone, or in combination with these other techniques, may be used.

Depending on the type and stage of the cancer, chemotherapy may be:

  • Taken by mouth
  • Given as an injection
  • Placed directly into the tumor site

Regional Perfusion for Liver Cancer

Regional perfusion delivers high concentrations of chemotherapy directly to the site of the cancer rather than through the bloodstream, as in traditional chemotherapy. The chemotherapy is circulated through an organ or within a certain region, bathing the cancer in the medication to treat it.

Types of perfusion therapy include:

Learn more about UPMC Hillman Cancer Center's David C. Koch Regional Perfusion Cancer Therapy Center.

Gene Therapy for Liver Cancer

Physician-researchers at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center are investigating gene therapies that use viruses to deliver genes to help attack cancer cells.

Complete Liver Cancer Treatment Services

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center's multidisciplinary approach to care brings together a team of leading experts in surgical oncology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology to develop treatment strategies that often involve a combination of treatments and clinical trials when appropriate.

People also have access to the latest therapies and clinical trials through UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, western Pennsylvania's only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

When appropriate, people are placed on Clinical Pathways, disease-specific treatment strategies developed by physicians, to ensure that everyone receives the same evidence-based care.

  • Each pathway combines innovative and promising clinical trial options with the best standard of care therapies.
  • Ongoing review by the clinical team ensures that each pathway remains the best and most effective treatment option available.

Clinical trials evaluating the safety and ability of viruses to treat cancer are available at Hillman Cancer Center.

Learn more at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Liver Cancer Program.

Contact Us About Liver Cancer Care

To learn more about Liver Cancer or to make an appointment, you can: