Cancer Center

Liver/Hepato-Biliary Cancer Program

Compassionate, Personalized Treatment for Liver Cancer

If you've been recently diagnosed with liver cancer, you and your family probably have many questions and concerns.

At the Liver Cancer Program at Tufts Medical center in Boston, our multidisciplinary team treats all types of liver tumors, including:

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (associated with hepatitis B, hepatitis C and excessive drinking)
  • Cancer of the bile ducts (cholangiocarcinoma)
  • Metastatic colorectal or breast cancers
  • Carcinoid tumors (neuroendocrine tumors of the gut)
  • Benign tumors and cysts like hepatic adenomas and hemangiomas

Our experienced team understands how overwhelming a cancer diagnosis can be. That's why we offer not only leading-edge cancer treatment, but also access to a range of support services for you and your family, such as:

What Treatments Are Right for Me?

Your treatment options depend on the type of cancer you have, how far it has advanced and your overall health. This is why having a team of specialists is so important. We'll work with you and your family to ensure your unique treatment plan addresses all aspects of your health.

Tumor Removal
Our surgeons specialize in minimally invasive liver resections. During this procedure, we remove the diseased portion of your liver laparoscopically through incisions as small as the tip of your finger. This minimally invasive approach reduces your pain, risk and recovery time.

Our doctors also use other minimally invasive therapies to remove or destroy liver tumors, including:

  • Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): Image-guided treatment that heats and destroys cancer cells
  • Cryosurgery: A technique to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue
  • Chemoembolization and radioembolization: The process of delivering anti-cancer drugs or radioactive particles directly to a tumor

Transplants
If you need a liver transplant, your care team will work in close collaboration with the doctors of the Transplant Surgery Service.

Drug Therapy
Your treatment regimen may also include immunotherapy such as nivolumab. Nivolumab is the first immunotherapy approved for liver cancer and offers new hope to patients whose cancer has spread or who cannot undergo surgery. We also offer targeted drug therapy and or chemotherapy. 

Clinical Trials
In addition to standard treatments, our program offers access to promising new therapies through participation in clinical trials at Tufts MC and across the country. View our open trials >

A Team Approach to Cancer Care

Our team includes liver specialists (hepatologist), surgeons, radiologists, oncologists, dedicated nurses, nutritionists and social workers. Together, we work to provide personalized treatment for each and every one of our patients. We review each patients case at our Liver Tumor Board. For your convenience during appointments, you can see your entire care team in one location.

Jacob M.  Elkon, MD

Jacob M. Elkon, MD

Accepting New Patients

Title(s): Hematologist/Oncologist; Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Medicine, Hematology/Oncology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-6227
Fax #: 617-636-8538

Gastrointestinal cancers, including colon, rectal, esophageal, stomach, liver and pancreatic cancers

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Martin Hertl, MD, PhD

Martin Hertl, MD, PhD

Accepting New Patients

Title(s): Chief, Abdominal Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery
Department(s): Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery
Appt. Phone:
Fax #:

Kidney, liver and pancreas transplantation, complex hepatobiliary surgery

View Full Profile for Martin Hertl, MD, PhD

Raffi Karagozian, MD

Raffi Karagozian, MD

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Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Online Scheduling Available

Title(s): Hepatologist; Program Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship Program; Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Medicine, Gastroenterology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-5883
Fax #: 617-636-4505

Abnormal liver tests, cirrhosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Hepatitis B/C, liver transplant, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, benign liver lesions, liver cancer, hemochromatosis, and drug induced liver injury.

View Full Profile for Raffi Karagozian, MD

Robert Martell, MD, PhD

Robert Martell, MD, PhD

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Accepting New Patients

Title(s): Medical Oncologist; Associate Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Medicine, Hematology/Oncology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-6227
Fax #: 617-636-8538

Phase I clinical trials, GI oncology, breast cancer, head and neck malignancies, liver tumors

View Full Profile for Robert Martell, MD, PhD

Miu Lai Ng, FNP, MPH

Miu Lai Ng, FNP, MPH

Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Online Scheduling Available

Title(s): Nurse Practitioner
Department(s): Gastroenterology, Hepatology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-5883
Fax #: 617-636-9292

Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Fatty liver diseases, autoimmune hepatitis, PSC, PBC, Cirrhosis”

View Full Profile for Miu Lai Ng, FNP, MPH

Daniel J. Ohngemach, MD, RPVI

Daniel J. Ohngemach, MD, RPVI

Accepting New Patients

Title(s): Interventional Radiologist, Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology; Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Radiology, Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-3004
Fax #:

Minimally Invasive Cancer Therapy, Prostatic Artery Embolization, Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment

View Full Profile for Daniel J. Ohngemach, MD, RPVI

Eugene I.  Tikh, MD, PhD

Eugene I. Tikh, MD, PhD

Virtual Appointments Available

Title(s): Radiologist; Cardiovascular-Interventional Radiology; Assistant Professor of Radiology, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Radiology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-3004
Fax #: 617-636-0041

Interventional Radiology

View Full Profile for Eugene I. Tikh, MD, PhD

We value our relationship with referring physicians, and we'll communicate with you by phone or in writing as soon as we see your patient. In addition, we're always available for questions.