Stage I and II Childhood Liver Cancer
Stage III Childhood Liver Cancer
Stage IV Childhood Liver Cancer

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Treatment for stages I and II and PRETEXT stages 1, 2, and 3 hepatoblastoma may include the following:

• Surgery to remove the tumor, followed by chemotherapy or watchful waiting (closely monitoring a patient’s condition without giving any treatment until symptoms appear or change).
• Chemotherapy to shrink the tumor, followed by surgery to remove the tumor.

Treatment for stage I and II hepatocellular carcinoma is usually surgery to remove the tumor, followed by combination chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage I childhood liver cancer and stage II childhood liver cancer.

Treatment of stage III and PRETEXT stage 4 hepatoblastoma may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy to shrink the tumor, followed by surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible.
• If the tumor cannot be removed by surgery after chemotherapy, further treatment may include the following:
  • High-dose chemotherapy.
  • Radiation therapy.
  • Chemoembolization of the hepatic artery.
  • Liver transplant.
• A clinical trial of combination chemotherapy.

Treatment of stage III hepatocellular carcinoma is usually combination chemotherapy to shrink the tumor, followed by surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage III childhood liver cancer.

Treatment of stage IV hepatoblastoma may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy to shrink the tumor, followed by surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible, including cancer that has spread to the lungs. If the cancer is completely removed, additional chemotherapy is given to kill any cancer cells that may remain.
• If the tumor cannot be removed by surgery after chemotherapy, further treatment may include the following:
  • High-dose chemotherapy.
  • Radiation therapy followed by surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible.
  • Chemoembolization of the hepatic artery.
  • Liver transplant.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

Treatment of stage IV hepatocellular carcinoma may be combination chemotherapy to reduce the size of the tumor, followed by surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage IV childhood liver cancer.

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