In recent years, the integration of surgery, oncology, immunology, pharmacology, and imaging has gradually formed the new discipline of transplant oncology. With the development of transplant oncology, liver transplantation plays an increasingly important role in the treatment of hepatobiliary and pancreatic malignant tumors. This article reviews the evolution of transplant oncology and summarizes its characteristics, and particularly elaborates on the important role of transplant oncology in the precise treatment of liver cancer, especially the selection of recipients and expansion of the source of donor liver. It is highlighted that the prevention and treatment of tumor recurrence after liver transplantation for liver cancer and exploration of related mechanisms are still the major research directions in transplant oncology.