Liver and Pancreas Cancer Treatment

Our expert surgeons use the latest da Vinci surgical robot to remove liver, pancreas and hepatobiliary cancer with great precision, fewer side effects and reduced recovery time.

• Open surgery. If you are not a candidate for robotic surgery, our surgeons are skilled at performing open surgical resection to remove tumors of the pancreas, liver and surrounding organs.
• Palliative surgery. Even if your cancer is inoperable, sometimes we can perform surgery to relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life.
• Whipple surgery. The Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) is the primary surgery for pancreatic cancer. Surgeons remove the head of the pancreas, and parts of the small intestine, gallbladder, stomach and lymph nodes.

Interventional radiologists use minimally invasive approaches, including ablation (killing tumor tissue with intense heat) and embolization (cutting off blood supply to the tumor). These techniques may be the primary treatment or used to reduce tumor size before surgery.

Hackensack Meridian Health is the first hospital in New Jersey to provide Trans-Arterial Micro-Perfusion. The treatment allows chemotherapy to be delivered through a catheter near the tumor site in the pancreas without causing any negative effects to the rest of the body.

This laparoscopic surgical treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis (cancer of the abdominal lining) offers a less invasive and direct way to deliver chemotherapy to the abdominal cavity. During the procedure, a few small incisions are made, and a small camera is inserted, followed by a pen-like device that injects an aerosolized version of chemotherapy into the abdominal lining. This results in a more targeted and effective distribution of chemotherapy, with fewer significant side effects.

Histotripsy is a non-invasive therapy that uses ultrasound to destroy liver tumors, without the need for incisions, needles, heat or radiation. This is a new option that expands treatment options for those who may not be candidates for surgery, thermal ablation or who would like to avoid invasive procedures.

A specialized treatment for advanced abdominal cancer, Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC), allows surgeons to circulate heated chemotherapy to the abdominal cavity following the removal of tumors. This targeted approach allows chemotherapy to better penetrate tissues within the abdominal cavity without negatively affecting other areas of the body.

This state-of-the-art technology provides a targeted and concentrated treatment option for patients with advanced primary liver cancers and colorectal cancer liver metastases. A small pump is surgically implanted in the abdomen and designed to deliver a continuous flow of chemotherapy to the artery that feeds tumors in the liver. Those receiving HAI therapy can continue their normal daily activities outside of a hospital with minimal disruption to their lives.

Your oncology team may recommend several non-surgical treatments based on your specific cancer. These include:

• Chemotherapy: To slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.
• Targeted Therapy: Analyzes your cancer's genetic mutations to disable the signals that help it grow and spread.
• Immunotherapy: Uses substances to boost your own immune system to find and destroy cancer cells.
• Hormone Therapy: Blocks hormones that may be stimulating cancer growth.

Yes, the center specializes in minimally invasive approaches to reduce recovery time and side effects. These include:

• Robotic Surgery: Using the da Vinci surgical robot, surgeons can remove tumors with great precision.
• Minimally Invasive Tumor Removal: Interventional radiologists use techniques like ablation (using intense heat to destroy tumor tissue) and embolization (cutting off the tumor's blood supply.)