Liver-directed treatment modalities for primary and secondary hepatic tumors

Colorectal cancer liver metastases and hepatocellular carcinoma remain significant health problems in the United States and worldwide. Although surgical resection is often the treatment of choice, patient comorbidities or disease extent may preclude this option. Alternative approaches to primary and secondary hepatic malignancies have been developed, and their impact on disease control has been the subject of much recent study. These therapies can be administered alone but can also be effective when used in combination, or with other chemotherapeutic regimens. This article reviews the different techniques of liver-directed therapy and the available literature on short- and long-term outcomes.