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Liver Cancer
Liver cancer affects about 21,000 Americans each year. It's one of the few cancers on the rise and is about twice as common in men than in women.
Liver cancer is a relatively common cancer in South Texas. The reason for the increase in cases is not readily apparent.
Why choose UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center for liver cancer?
UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center houses a unique multidisciplinary clinic, the Texas Liver Tumor Center. The Texas Liver Tumor Center was formed as a partnership between University Health System, UT Health San Antonio and Texas Liver Institute, with the intent of creating a unique, advanced healthcare system to treat a wide variety of liver tumors.
The Liver Tumor Center team is comprised of our highly experienced and knowledgeable staff including:
- Clinical Coordinator
- Hepatologist
- Medical Oncologist
- Interventional Radiologist
- Pathologist
- Dietitians
- Social Workers
Our multidisciplinary liver cancer team offers screening, treatment and counseling regarding all options. For additional information visit the Texas Liver Tumor Center's website.
Clinical trials
We are the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Central and South Texas. The cancer center offers care delivered by teams specializing in all phases of clinical trials. Clinical trials are available for patients who have just been diagnosed and never been treated. Clinical trials are also available for patients who have had prior treatments.
The cancer center offers experimental treatments and first-in-human clinical trials under special programs for patients who qualify.
Make an appointment
To request an appointment with our team or to make a referral to one of our physicians, please call the main number: 210-743-4306 or 1-888-336-9633 or email LiverTumorCenter@uhs-sa.com.
Diagnosis
How is liver cancer diagnosed?
Liver cancer can be a silent cancer. Tests are necessary to confirm a diagnosis.
- Blood tests can show tumor markers such as alpha feto-protein (AFP) or other liver function tests.
- Ultrasounds and other scans also may be used.
- CT or MRI scans and other imaging tests will be reviewed and interpreted by expert radiologists.
- Biopsy: This may be necessary for select patients.
Tests, including blood tests, CT scans and other imaging scans will be performed to determine the extent of disease. This is called staging. The stage of cancer and the assessment of liver function determines the ideal primary treatment.
Treatment
Liver cancer treatment at the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center
Our liver cancer experts will discuss treatment options at one appointment:
- Surgery: The cancer is removed by a team that includes liver transplant surgeons and other surgeons who specialize in liver cancer surgery.
- Radiology or image-guided treatments: Radiofrequency ablation, chemo-embolization and use of radioactive isotopes are placed directly into the liver cancer by interventional radiology doctors who specialize in liver cancer treatments.
- Radiation therapy: Techniques that are specific to liver cancer are available.
- Chemotherapy: Standard chemotherapy options are used with some patients.
- Clinical trial-based new treatment: Options will be discussed and treatments will be tailored to each patient’s needs.
- Survivorship care: Our patients are provided with long-term surveillance and regular follow-up visits are planned to provide the best long-term survivorship care.
Causes
When the liver is damaged, the normal tissue is replaced with collagen which is called fibrosis. Fibrosis is given a staging system, generally with fibrosis stage 4 is cirrhosis of the liver. The presence of stage 3 or 4 fibrosis is one of the main risk factors for the development of primary liver cancer. However, secondary liver cancers, or those that spread to the liver from other sites, often occur in completely healthy livers.
Most damage to the liver comes from:
- Viral hepatitis: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Fatty liver
- Autoimmune conditions
- Genetic causes