Learn about emerging treatments for metastatic liver cancer. We’ve got it covered, from new FDA approvals to emerging approaches in targeted therapy, immunotherapy, ablation, surgery, modified viruses, and more.

  • November 24, 2020 

    Efficacy and Safety of Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Patients With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Previously Treated With SorafenibBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    This scientific research paper published in JAMA Oncology reports results from a clinical trial in which the drugs nivolumab and ipilimumab showed promising safety and efficacy for people with advanced liver cancer who had previously received the drug sorafenib.

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  • October 16, 2020 

    Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)—An OverviewBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Overview from Medscape curated by Contributing Editor George Lundberg, MD, who notes:

    This 2020 encyclopedic approach to all of the many diagnostic and therapeutic options available for primary hepatocellular carcinoma leaves no stone unturned. (Free registration required, written with a physician audience in mind.)

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  • August 7, 2020 

    FDA Approves Merck’s Keytruda, Foundation Medicine CDx for TMB-High Solid TumorsBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Article from GenomeWeb curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes: 

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug pembrolizumab (brand name Keytruda) for solid tumors based solely on whether they have a high tumor mutational burden—a high number of changes in the DNA of the cancer cells.

    Go to full article published by GenomeWeb.

    If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.

  • August 26, 2019 

    Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of Liver TumorsBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes:

    Although generally not well recognized in the U.S., radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy can be highly effective in managing localized smaller lever cancers. Learn more about this treatment approach from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

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  • August 17, 2019 

    Primary Hepatic CarcinomaBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes:

    Primary liver cell cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer deaths throughout the world. Usually arising in cirrhotic livers, its treatment modalities are many and varied. Cures are elusive except for liver transplantation, but many therapy modalities can sustain prolonged survival. This overview from Medscape provides useful information about the disease.

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You’re not alone. Cancer Commons is a great resource and sounding board to ask questions and get advice and support.

Karen
Advanced breast cancer patient

Molecular tests help match patients to the personalized treatments that are most likely to work for them. Keep up with new developments in molecular testing that could help guide liver cancer treatment, such as detection of genetic mutations and other biomarkers.

  • February 7, 2017 

    Testing for Tumor Mutations: Liquid Biopsy Versus Traditional Biopsy

    Emma Shtivelman, PhD

    Update as of August 27, 2020: A lot has changed in the three-and-a-half years since this blog post was written. Liquid biopsies are by now widely recognized and used as a valuable diagnostic and monitoring tool. Many of the reservations and concerns described in the original post below have been addressed and largely resolved by refining the technology. The latest proof of this is… Read more »

  • January 29, 2021 

    Targeted Therapy for Hepatocellular CarcinomaBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    This scientific review paper published in the journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy discusses recent research into newer medications that show promise as targeted therapies for some cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma, following molecular testing.

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  • January 31, 2020 

    Blood-Based Screening Test May Aid in Detecting GI CancersBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Article from Cancer Network curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes: 

    Early diagnosis remains a key for therapeutic success in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The sensitivity and specificity of these blood tests are encouraging.

    Go to full article published by Cancer Network.

    If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.

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Some of the most promising new treatments for metastatic liver cancer are currently being tested in patients enrolled in clinical trials. We help you stay up to date on the latest results from these studies.

  • January 29, 2021 

    Efficacy and Safety of Sorafenib Plus Vitamin K Treatment for Hepatocellular CarcinomA: A Phase II, Randomized StudyBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    This scientific research paper published in the journal Cancer Medicine reports that the drug sorafenib has shown some effectiveness against hepatocellular carcinoma in a clinical trial, and that adding vitamin K2 enhanced that effectiveness.

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  • November 24, 2020 

    Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab in Unresectable Hepatocellular CarcinomaBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    This academic research paper from The New England Journal of Medicine reports results from a clinical trial in which a treatment that combines the drugs atezolizumab and bevacizumab improved both progression-free and overall survival for people with unresectable primary liver cancer.

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  • October 8, 2020 

    Innovent Biologics’s TYVYT/Byvasda combo shows survival benefit in late-stage liver cancer studyBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Article from Seeking Alpha curated by Contributing Editor George Lundberg, MD, who notes: 

    In a phase 3 clinical trial, a new drug combination improved both overall survival and progression-free survival for people with hepatocellular carcinoma.

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  • May 30, 2020 

    Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab vs Sorafenib in Treatment-Naive Patients With Unresectable Hepatocellular CarcinomaBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Article from The ASCO Post curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes: 

    In a clinical trial, a combination of the drugs atezolizumab and bevacizumab improved both progression-free survival and overall survival in advanced hepatocarcinoma (the most common form of liver cancer), with fewer adverse effects. These findings were reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

    Go to full article published by The ASCO Post.

    If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.

  • December 2, 2019 

    ESMO Asia 2019: Combination of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab for Unresectable Hepatocellular CarcinomaBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Article from The ASCO Post curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes: 

    In a clinical trial, a new combination therapy conferred better response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival than standard sorafinib for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

    Go to full article published by The ASCO Post.

    If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.

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What if your doctor could know what everyone collectively knew?

Marty Tenenbaum, PhD
Founder of Cancer Commons

Cancer affects many aspects of life, whether you’re newly diagnosed, in the midst of treatment, or in follow-up care. Learn about ways to maintain quality of life, such as palliative care and managing side effects.

  • October 14, 2019 

    Pediatric Palliative Care: A Specialty Comes of Age

    Sarah Friebert, MD

    For a child with cancer, palliative care can provide much-needed relief from stress and symptoms—for the patient and their family alike. Palliative care is given alongside cancer treatment, and is not synonymous with “end-of-life” care. In fact, anyone with a serious illness can benefit from palliative care, no matter their long-term outlook. Because of its importance for children with cancer, we are honored to… Read more »

  • January 29, 2021 

    Tumour Ablation for Liver Cancer: What to Expect at HomeBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Ablation therapy is becoming common practice for treatment of cancer that begins in the liver. MyHealth.Alberta.ca provides information on recovery and at-home care following the procedure.

  • February 11, 2020 

    ‘Impressed With Impact’ of Ketamine in Cancer Palliative CareBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Article from Medscape curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes: 

    Depression is, for obvious reasons, common in patients with advanced cancer. The old, inexpensive drug ketamine—already approved for medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—seems rapidly effective, according to small studies.

    Go to full article published by Medscape.

    If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.

  • October 7, 2019 

    Emphasizing Oncogeriatrics

    With: Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, MD

    A Q&A with Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, MD, Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom, and Chair of the Young Interest Group of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG); nicolo.battisti@gmail.com Q: Everyone knows that the practice of pediatric oncology is very different from adult oncology. How does the growing field of oncogeriatrics differ from usual adult oncology? A:… Read more »

  • August 26, 2019 

    Two Ministers, 26 Years: A Reflection on Engaged Hope in CancerBookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Article from the Journal of Clinical Oncology, selected by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes:

    A hospital chaplain describes a nearly 30 year experience about the importance of engaged hope as he copes with his advanced liver cancer.

    Go to full article published by the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

    If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.

  • December 3, 2018 

    Best Uses of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Patients with Cancer

    With: Val Jones, MD

    A Q&A with Val Jones, MD, Medical Director of Admissions, Saint Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Spokane, WA Originally published February 1, 2017 Q: Your principal practice in Spokane, Washington is physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). What do you find to be the best uses of PM&R in patients with cancer at your facility? A: Rehabilitation medicine is one of the best-kept secrets in healthcare. Although the… Read more »

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You’re not alone. Read how other patients and caregivers navigated diagnosis, treatment, and life with cancer. We hope their stories provide insights and hope for your own cancer journey.

More patient stories

Learn more about what’s new in advanced cancer research and treatment, including screening and statistics, using artificial intelligence to improve treatment, and other new horizons in cancer care.

  • April 7, 2021 

    Rankings of Most Common and Deadly Cancer Types Will Shift Over Next Two Decades

    In the next two decades, rankings of incidence and death across cancer types will undergo important changes in the U.S., according to new research led by Lola Rahib, PhD, Director of Scientific and Clinical Affairs at Cancer Commons, as well as the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) in collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Published today in JAMA Network Open,… Read more »

  • March 29, 2021 

    Can Really Big Data Inform Precise Decisions for Individual Patients?

    With: Matvey B. Palchuk, MD, MS, FAMIA

    New technologies are transforming cancer research. By optimizing research protocols and leveraging data more efficiently and intelligently, these tools hold the promise to improve personalized cancer care. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Matvey B. Palchuk, MD, MS, FAMIA, VP of Informatics at TriNetX, LLC, about the capabilities of his company’s platform. Curious Dr. George: Translational medicine has evolved to include personalized medicine and… Read more »

  • November 10, 2020 

    How to Learn About Cancer in a Classroom: Shaping Compassionate Doctors

    With: Marin Langlieb

    The patients and caregivers we serve here at Cancer Commons rely on their doctors to provide expert, compassionate care. Building the skills to give such care can begin early in a doctor’s education. Here, for a change of pace, our Curious Dr. George asks a future doctor about a unique experience that helped her learn how to connect with cancer patients. Marin Langlieb is… Read more »

  • September 9, 2020 

    Is Cancer the Best Way to Die?

    With: Richard Smith, CBE, FMedSci

    In 2014, the prestigious medical research journal The BMJ published a controversial piece called “Dying of cancer is the best death.” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks the author of that piece, Richard Smith, CBE, FMedSci, if and how his thoughts on death have since evolved. Dr. Smith was Editor of The BMJ from 1991 to 2004 and is currently Chair of the Lancet Commission… Read more »

  • August 21, 2020 

    The Power of Precision Medicine is Exemplified by Tempus

    With: Nike Beaubier, MDNamratha Sastry, PhD

    Tempus—a tech company & partner of Cancer Commons—empowers doctors to make data-driven decisions for their patients in real time. Learn how.

  • June 29, 2020 

    Cancer Screening Programs Influence Incidence and Causes of Cancer DeathsBookmark

    Lola Rahib, PhD

    Article from ASCO Daily News curated by Director of Scientific and Clinical Affairs, Lola Rahib, PhD.

    In collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Cancer Commons presented new research at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)’s virtual 2020 meeting. The findings show that, by 2040, we will likely see notable changes in which cancer types are most common and which are most deadly, highlighting the influence of cancer screening programs. This research was led by Dr. Rahib at Cancer Commons.

    Go to full article published by ASCO Daily News.

    If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.

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The coronavirus pandemic presents unprecedented challenges to cancer patients. We can help you understand how COVID-19 might impact your treatment and other aspects of your cancer care.