Primary Liver Cancer

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Malignant, or cancerous, liver tumors can be either primary or metastatic. Primary tumors originate in the liver and can start from any of the different types of cells that normally exist in the liver. The American Cancer Society estimates that 14,510 people in the United States will be diagnosed with liver cancer in 2006. There are other types of liver cancer, but the most common is hepatocellular carcinoma, which accounts for 75 percent of those diagnosed. Cholangiocarcinoma (cancer in the sections of the bile ducts within the liver) is another kind of primary liver cancer but is a rare form of the disease, representing about ten percent of diagnoses.

Metastatic, or secondary, liver tumors are those that have spread to the liver from another cancer elsewhere in the body. Because one of the liver's main functions is to filter blood for the entire body, cancer cells from other parts of the body may become lodged in the liver and develop into tumors. The most common points of origin for liver metastases are the colon and rectum. In many types of metastatic cancers dwelling in the liver, therapies are available that are potentially curative or may prolong a patient's survival. To learn more, visit the Liver Metastases overview on our Web site.

In this section, you can find information about our Hepatobiliary Disease Management Team's expertise in treating patients with primary liver cancer, our services, and our ongoing clinical research.

Our Approach & Expertise
Memorial Sloan-Kettering doctors have seen several thousand patients with liver cancer over the past decade, making us a leader in treating this disease.
Our Team of Experts
Information about Memorial Sloan-Kettering's liver cancer specialists, their education, training, board certifications, current publications, and specific areas of clinical expertise.
Overview
In the United States, primary liver cancer is comparatively rare -- there are 18,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common solid organ tumor. This is due to widespread viral hepatitis infection.
Risk Factors
The five main risk factors for liver cancer are chronic viral hepatitis, alcohol use or abuse; inherited metabolic diseases that affect the liver; environmental factors; and physical conditions, such as obesity or diabetes.
Prevention
As with some other types of cancer, you can take some important steps to prevent liver cancer. Avoiding exposure to the hepatitis B and C viruses is the best way to reduce your risk.
Symptoms
Most patients with primary liver cancer have no symptoms. However, in some instances, jaundice, malaise, or a general feeling of poor health, loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, fatigue, bloating, swelling of the legs, or weakness may be present. Abdominal pain or discomfort can also occur.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of primary liver cancer is generally made with blood tests, diagnostic imaging, surgical biopsy or laparoscopy, or a combination of the above.
Treatment
Several treatment options are available for patients with liver cancer, depending upon which organ is involved, how extensive the tumor is, and the patient's general health and age.
Our Clinical Trials
A continually updated listing of Memorial Sloan-Kettering's current clinical trials for primary liver cancer.
After Treatment
Coordinated care by a multidisciplinary team of clinician-researchers with experience and expertise in treating this kind of cancer and its related symptoms can help ensure quality of life for longer periods than have been possible in the past.

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