Liver Cancer Research and Clinical Trials

Our liver cancer researchers and clinicians work together to translate discoveries from the lab into new options for patients. Many also care for patients, allowing them to quickly move promising findings into clinical trials.

When your care team designs your treatment plan, they will give you the choice to join clinical trials that match your situation. If you decide to join one, you will see the same physicians and nurses as you would for standard therapy.

Fred Hutch and UW Medicine researchers are advancing how liver cancer is detected and treated by studying the genetic and molecular drivers of the disease. Our teams develop new models of liver cancer, identify biomarkers for earlier diagnosis, and test innovative therapies through clinical trials.

This research focuses on improving survival while reducing treatment‑related side effects for people with liver cancer.

Liver Cancer Clinical Trials

Fred Hutch typically has over 750 active cancer clinical trials enrolling participants.

Clinical trials may allow some patients access to a promising new treatment, and help physicians and researchers learn more about a disease.

Search Liver Cancer Clinical Trials

Our Areas of Research of Liver Cancer

Our researchers study the molecular mechanisms behind how liver tumors form and the factors that affect how liver cancer develops. They aim to use these findings to advance early detection and diagnosis. Our scientists also study the factors that affect whether a particular treatment works for a given patient.

Earlier Detection

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death. High mortality rates stem in part from how hard it is to detect HCC in its early stages. Our researchers are developing better ways to find liver cancer earlier when it is easier to treat. Fred Hutch is leading the first study for the Cancer Screening Research Network, funded by the National Cancer Institute, on a new type of blood test that screens for liver and other cancers, called a multi-cancer detection test.

Hepatitis B and C

Because chronic hepatitis B and C infections increase liver cancer risk, Fred Hutch researchers study how these viruses contribute to tumor development and how new approaches, including gene‑editing strategies, may reduce that risk.

New Drug Targets

Targeted therapies are medicines designed to act more specifically on cancer cells than traditional chemotherapy. These therapies target a gene or protein that causes cancer growth. Fred Hutch researchers are working to identify genes or proteins that can be targets for these medicines to treat intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and rare liver cancers like fibrolamellar carcinoma. By finding vulnerabilities in cancer cells, researchers have an opportunity to develop therapies that exploit those weaknesses.

Our Liver Cancer Researchers and Faculty

Our liver cancer researchers and clinicians work together to prevent, diagnose and treat liver cancer. Many also care for patients, helping move research discoveries quickly into clinical trials and new treatment options.

See below for our researchers and faculty or view our liver cancer care team providers.

Stacey Cohen, MD

Stacey Cohen, MD

Stacey Cohen, MD

Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch

Phone: 206.606.6658
Email:
Fax: 206.606.1090
Mail Stop: J3-400
Ziding Feng, PhD

Ziding Feng, PhD

Ziding Feng, PhD

Professor, Biostatistics Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch

Member, Pathogen-Associated Malignancies Integrated Research Center (PAM IRC)

1 more appointment

Phone: 206.667.6038
Email:
Fax: 206.667.5964
Mail Stop: M3-C102
Jie Fu, PhD, DABR

Jie Fu, PhD, DABR

Jie Fu, PhD, DABR

Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology Division, Fred Hutch

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop:
William M. Grady, MD

William M. Grady, MD

William M. Grady, MD

Professor, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutch

Professor, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch

6 more appointments

Phone: 206.667.1107
Email:
Fax: 206.667.2917
Mail Stop: G4-100
Lab Website
Clemens Grassberger, PhD

Clemens Grassberger, PhD

Clemens Grassberger, PhD

Associate Professor, Radiation Oncology Division, Fred Hutch

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop:
William P. Harris, MD

William P. Harris, MD

William P. Harris, MD

Associate Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch

Phone: 206.606.6856
Email:
Fax: 206.606.1090
Mail Stop: D5-310
Anne McTiernan, MD, PhD

Anne McTiernan, MD, PhD

Anne McTiernan, MD, PhD

Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch

Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail Stop:

Liver Cancer News

All news
New grant funds research on circadian disruption and its potential link to liver cancer
New grant funds research on circadian disruption and its potential link to liver cancer In this episode of From Bench to Bedside and Beyond, Dr. Trang VoPham talks about her research into solar jet lag, including how it can impact your health April 6, 2026
Does solar jet lag contribute to liver cancer?
Does solar jet lag contribute to liver cancer? Fred Hutch researcher will use American Cancer Society grant to determine if circadian disruption increases risk for hepatocellular carcinoma April 2, 2026
Fred Hutch brings together rare cancer community
Fred Hutch brings together rare cancer community Patients and caregivers share frustrations, practical realities of rare cancer life at TRACER program’s first education symposium March 25, 2026