The International Liver Cancer Study (ILCS) is a network of clinicians, epidemiologists and molecular biologists coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which objectives are to improve understanding of the geographic, pathological, virological and molecular diversity of the disease, as well as the identification of reliable biomarkers for risk assessment, early detection and monitoring of the disease.

The initiative began in July 2005, when liver cancer was identified by the IARC Cancer Control Forum (a network of directors of large cancer centres around the world) as a priority for joint action in prevention, translational research, training and technology exchange. It takes advantage of the existing strengths of participating National Cancer Centres from over 40 different countries, as well as of the expertise of IARC in coordinating international multi-centric studies.