Palliative Radiotherapy (RT) for Liver Metastases (Mets) and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)(COLD 4)

Palliative radiotherapy is radiation treatment given to help reduce pain or discomfort, or other symptoms related to cancer. This is used commonly for cancer that has spread to the bones and brain, and for many other primary cancers that are too advanced to be cured, including lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and head and neck cancer. The benefits of palliative radiotherapy for advanced liver cancer have not been well studied. This study is designed to help to see whether palliative radiation therapy is effective in controlling pain, discomfort or other symptoms related to liver cancer, and how this therapy Phase II Trial of Palliative Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Hepatic Metastases might affect the quality of life of patients receiving such therapy. This information will help the doctors understand if there are specific conditions under which radiation therapy is more effective and worthwhile, and how it may affect the quality of life for patients who have locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic metastasis.