Treatment of hepatoblastoma
Treatment for hepatoblastoma depends on which risk group your child falls into. The treatment usually includes chemotherapy and surgery, and occasionally liver transplantation.
Surgery
Surgery is carried out following chemotherapy to shrink the tumour. The aim is to remove the tumour completely and this is undertaken by a specialist liver surgeon. If it is not possible to remove the tumour completely after further chemotherapy, then liver transplantation maybe considered.
Chemotherapy
Treatment with anti-cancer drugs is used to destroy the cancer cells. It is usually given by injections and drips into a vein (intravenous infusions). The type of chemotherapy will vary in intensity and duration according to the risk group of the tumour.
If your child takes part in a clinical trial, the treatment is explained in more detail in the specific trial information sheet. You will be given an outline of the treatment in the form of a ‘road map’.
Clinical trials
Clinical trials are medical research trials involving patients that are carried out to try and find new and better treatments. In cancer, clinical trials are most commonly used to try and improve different forms of treatment such as surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
The treatment being tested may be aimed at:
- improving the number of people cured (for example, trying new types of surgery or chemotherapy)
- improving survival
- relieving the symptoms of the cancer
- relieving the side effects of treatment
- improving the quality of life or sense of wellbeing for people with cancer.
Clinical trials may also involve research aimed at understanding more about the tumour’s biology. You may be asked to allow us to do research on the tumour sample removed at surgery, or on blood samples.
Well-run clinical trials have led to a significant improvement in the treatment of children with cancer. You can find more general information on clinical trials in the separate information sheet. If you are asked to consider entering your child into a clinical trial you will be given specific information about the trial before deciding whether to take part.