Liver Tumor Study Group

Liver Tumor Study Group

http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/ltsg/

Welcome to the Liver Tumor Study Group. This website is for patients and their family members and friends who have received a diagnosis of liver cancer, and for those who are being tested for this illness.

Liver tumors include tumors that develop from liver cells (primary liver cancer) and tumors that develop somewhere else in the body and spread to the liver (metastatic liver cancer). Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of primary liver cancer. Colorectal carcinoma is the most common source of metastatic liver cancer. The exact cause of primary liver cancer is not known, but alcohol use, hepatitis infections, exposure to toxins and the use of anabolic steroids may increase a person's risk of developing the disease. The liver is a common site of spread from non-liver tumors. This is because the liver's large size and high blood flow make it a prime target for tumor cells traveling through the bloodstream. 

At M. D. Anderson, we believe that the successful diagnosis and treatment of liver tumors requires a team of specialists. This is true for both primary liver cancer and metastatic liver cancer. We have a dedicated team of surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and medical oncologists who meet weekly to plan the best treatment for individual patients with liver tumors. Each liver tumor is different, and our treatment planning reflects this. We study the unique biological features of each patient's tumor so that treatment can be tailored for best results.

We invite you to read more about liver cancer and our treatment options.