Advanced Cancer Treatment and Technology
BIDMC offers vast clinical expertise in medical, radiation and surgical cancer care. You can read more about medical oncology (using chemotherapy and other treatments to kill cancer cells), radiation oncology (using radiation to kill cancer cells) and surgical care by linking on the highlighted words.
Liver Tumor Center
Our Liver Tumor Program coordinates a multidisciplinary team in the Transplant Institute and Liver Program to provide medical, surgical or interventional procedures – or a combination of all therapies – based on your particular cancer diagnosis. Treatment options can include:
- Liver resection (surgically removing parts of the liver) or minimally invasive, laparoscopic liver resection
- Liver transplantation for patients who are not candidates for surgical resection
- Specialized procedures to destroy the tumor when surgery is not an option, or shrink the tumor so surgeons can remove it and/or perform liver resection with improved outcome. These procedures include:
Radiofrequency ablation places a probe into the tumor and heats the tumor using radio waves in order to shrink/destroy the cancerous tissue
Chemoembolization (transarterial chemoembolization or (TACE) injects chemotherapy and small particles into the hepatic artery to block the tumor blood supply and to shrink/destroy the cancerous tissue
Alcohol ablation uses injections of alcohol to destroy tumor cells
Radiation therapy targets the tumor with X-rays or radioactive agents
CyberKnife is precisely targeted stereotactic body radiation therapy, focused at the tumor site, with minimal exposure to surrounding healthy tissue; Cyberknife is especially well suited for hard-to-reach and complex tumors in the liver and pancreas, among other organs.
- Chemotherapy – either systemic (treating cancer wherever it is located in the body) or intra-arterial (delivering the chemotherapy through a catheter directly into the artery supplying the tumor)
- Clinical Trials – new and novel treatment options offered through special research studies called clinical trials
- Palliative (comfort) care – optimizes comfort during all aspects of cancer treatment to help alleviate suffering and promote quality of life
For more information about primary and metastatic malignancies of the liver, including types of liver cancer and specific treatments, and the advanced care and treatment we offer for gallbladder and bile duct cancer, please click here.
Center for Advanced Endoscopy
BIDMC has the largest referral practice for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in New England and the third largest in the United States. performing more than 1,800 procedures per year. We also do more than 1,000 endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedures annually.
ERCP is the use of x-rays and an endoscope through which the physician see the inside of your digestive system. Dyes are injected into the ducts in the biliary tree and pancreas so they can be seen on x-rays. Other endoscopic proceedures pioneered by our renowned specilaists in gastroenterology help diagnose and treat a variety of complicated liver, pancreas and bile duct problems and are available in our new endoscopy suite. These new endoscopic modalities in addition to ERCP include endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), (combines endoscopy and ultrasound in order to obtain images and information about the digestive tract and the surrounding tissue and organs) intraductal cholangioscopy (using an endoscope to visualize the biliary tree during ERCP), and confocal microscopy (an enhanced imaging technique for real-time, cellular tissue inspection). ERCP in combination with these new and novel modalities help us diagnose liver, pancreas and biliary cancer at the earliest possible time and with the highest possible accuracy.
When inoperable tumors block a bile duct or small intestine, doctors in our Digestive Disease Center may perform ERCP and insert a variety of different stents into the duct or small intestine to keep it open.
Radiology Advanced Imaging Studies
BIDMC enjoys an international reputation for state-of-the-art radiological imaging. Improved imaging helps detect cancer in its earliest stages. Routinely available techniques include:
- Rapid multidetector CT (computed tomography) angiography and MR (magnetic resonance) angiography for depicting the blood vessels supplying the liver
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography), a non-invasive method for imaging the bile ducts and pancreas
In the image processing laboratories, physicians use 3-dimensional reconstructions of CT scan images to plan surgical management and actual procedures.
Our acclaimed interventional radiology division, leaders in the field, have helped pioneer:
- The development of image-guided tumor ablation therapies, such as radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors (using heat and radio waves to destroy tumor tissue), which is performed under CT and ultrasound guidance.
Medical Oncology
BIDMC has a specialized outpatient medical oncology unit for outpatient oncology evaluation and treatment, and a specialized inpatient medical oncology floor for inpatient oncology care.
Medical oncology uses chemotherapy and other medicines, such as hormones and biological therapy, to treat cancer. Chemotherapy – given by pill, needle injection into a muscle or vein, or via catheter into the tumor or organ – travels through the bloodstream to kill cancer cells. For more information about medical oncology at BIDMC, please click here and visit the Cancer Clinical Trials Office page.
You may benefit from standard chemotherapy protocols (drugs and treatment guidelines) that improve the outcome of your particular cancer and symptoms. Or you may qualify for one of our extensive clinical trials – research studies that are designed to find better treatments for cancer patients based on the most updated information from around the country. Clinical trials investigate novel agents, such as angiogenics (starve the tumor of its blood supply) and signal transduction inhibitors (disable the faulty “switch” that turns normal cells into cancerous cells), as well as improve our understanding of cancer biology such as transcription factors and the genetic blueprint for liver cancer.
Radiation Oncology
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays or particles to treat disease. High doses of radiation can kill cells or keep them from growing and dividing. Radiation therapy is a useful tool for treating cancer because cancer cells grow and divide more rapidly than many of the surrounding normal cells. Our CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery system is precisely targeted radiation therapy, focused at the tumor site, with minimal exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. For more information about radiation oncology at BIDMC, please click here.
Intensive Care Unit
BIDMC’s intensive care unit provides specialized liver and medical care. An integrated team of physicians and nurses will care for you if you have serious medical conditions, suffer from liver failure, if you are recovering from complex liver surgery for cancer or other conditions, or have undergone liver transplantation.
Pathology
BIDMC pathologists have special expertise in liver tumors. Pathologists are physicians who have special training and expertise in diagnosing disease from biopsies, blood samples and other body fluids. Our pathologists are internationally regarded for their expertise in all types of cancer and benign diseases. Please click here for more information about BIDMC pathology and our world-class contributions to cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Genetic Testing and Counseling
The Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program serves those at increased risk of hereditary cancer. We discuss your risk of cancer, appropriate management of that risk, and offer genetic counseling services.
Arnold Pain Management Center
The Arnold Pain Management Center offers comprehensive care to patients with complex acute or chronic pain.
Palliative Care Service
Palliative (comfort) care helps to optimize your comfort during all aspects of cancer treatment. The major emphasis of palliative care is to alleviate suffering and promote quality of life. For more information about our palliative care consultation services, please click here.
Oncology Social Work
Certified oncology social workers specialize in treating patients with liver disease and with cancer. Oncology social workers provide counseling and other services to empower you and your family, and to reduce your stress through all phases of your cancer treatment. For more information, please click here.
Full Spectrum of Care
For more information about the Liver Center, and the comprehensive and innovative care we offer for all types of liver disease, including liver failure and viral hepatitis, please click here.
For more information about liver surgery for cancer and other conditions, please click here.
