Comprehensive Research from West China Hospital of Sichuan University

Comprehensive Research from West China Hospital of Sichuan University

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GU 2023) was held in San Francisco, USA, from February 16th to 18th, 2023. Dr. Qiang Wei and Dr. Hao Zeng's team had multiple findings selected for academic exchange at this ASCO-GU symposium. Their work addressed prostate cancer, urinary tract carcinoma, and kidney cancer, covering prospective clinical trials, retrospective studies, and translational research. They shared and conveyed the "West China Experience" and "West China Plan" on the international stage.
Dr Zhu Yao’s Team: Significant Survival Differences in Newly Diagnosed mPC Patients between Asian and Caucasian patients

Dr Zhu Yao’s Team: Significant Survival Differences in Newly Diagnosed mPC Patients between Asian and Caucasian patients

Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center Are there differences in long-term prognosis between Asian and Caucasian patients with new metastatic prostate cancer (mPC)? A study presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GU 2023) by Dr. Zhu Yao's team suggests that among patients receiving different treatment regimens, Asian males have superior overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) compared to white males in this category. This research highlights the importance of considering Asians as an independent prognostic factor when evaluating individual patient outcomes and the need to include an adequate representation of Asian patients in the design of global multicenter clinical trials.
Urinary Tumor DNA for MRD Detection in NMIBC rTURBT

Urinary Tumor DNA for MRD Detection in NMIBC rTURBT

The American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GU 2023) kicked off in San Francisco on February 16, 2023. On the second day of the conference, during a special session on urothelial carcinoma, Professor Kyle M. Rose from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center presented a prospective study on using cfDNA/utDNA for MRD detection in NMIBC patients undergoing repeat-transurethral resection of bladder tumor (rTURBT).
Dr. Wei Yu: Research Progress in ASCO-GU 2023 Urothelial Carcinoma

Dr. Wei Yu: Research Progress in ASCO-GU 2023 Urothelial Carcinoma

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2023 (ASCO-GU 2023) kicked off on February 16th in San Francisco, USA. In the field of urothelial carcinoma (UC), significant progress has been made in research. Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the first-line treatment for advanced UC, as reported in the final analysis of the IMvigor130 study, has provided more information on the population benefiting from immune therapy. Additionally, immunotherapy has expanded into early-stage treatment, with the updated 3-year follow-up data from the CheckMate 274 study showing a Disease-Free Survival (DFS) of up to 52.6 months in the PD-L1 > 1% subgroup. Furthermore, different targets such as Trop-2 and Nectin-4 in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are being explored in various treatment modalities and are extending from later-line to first-line treatment.
Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy Research: SBRT vs Surgery; Conventional Radiation vs Large Fraction Radiation  

Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy Research: SBRT vs Surgery; Conventional Radiation vs Large Fraction Radiation  

The 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GU 2023) kicked off on February 16th in San Francisco, USA. In the field of prostate cancer radiation therapy, two phase 3 clinical studies were selected for oral presentation: The PACE-A study explores stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) compared to surgery for localized prostate cancer; The CHHiP study further reports survival and comorbidity outcomes with a 12-year follow-up.
Dr. Yao Zhu talks to Dr. Nguyen: Advances in Radiotherapy and Surgical Treatment of Prostate Cancer at ASCO-GU 2023

Dr. Yao Zhu talks to Dr. Nguyen: Advances in Radiotherapy and Surgical Treatment of Prostate Cancer at ASCO-GU 2023

The 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GU 2023) has concluded. During this conference, several studies related to early-stage/ localized prostate cancer radiotherapy or surgical treatment were presented as oral reports. Among them, the FORMULA-509 study presented by Dr. Paul L. Nguyen of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School showed that for high-risk patients with biochemical recurrence after radical surgery, combining 6 months of ADT (Androgen Deprivation Therapy) with novel hormonal therapy on top of salvage radiotherapy can improve patient survival. "Oncology Frontier" invited Dr. Zhu Yao from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center to have a discussion with Dr. Nguyen, delving into the interpretation of the FORMULA-509 study and other prostate cancer surgery and radiotherapy-related research presented at the conference.
Dr. Zhiren Chen: 3-year follow-up data from the START-FIT trial, showing an ORR of 67% for local advanced liver cancer patients

Dr. Zhiren Chen: 3-year follow-up data from the START-FIT trial, showing an ORR of 67% for local advanced liver cancer patients

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in China. In recent years, with the continuous improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the misdiagnosis rate and mortality of early-stage HCC have greatly decreased. However, many patients are already at an advanced stage when liver cancer is detected, making curative treatment impossible. For these inoperable HCC (uHCC) patients, how to maximize the rescue of the patient's life remains a major challenge. The emergence of local treatments, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and multidimensional combined treatments has promoted the transition of uHCC patients to earlier stages, enhancing their survival benefits. In 2022, the leading international journal, The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, published a single-arm Phase II clinical study called START-FIT by Dr. Zhiren Chen's team from the University of Hong Kong, China. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of TACE, SBRT, and PD-L1 inhibitors in treating patients with locally advanced uHCC. At the 13th Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert Meeting (APPLE 2023), the team presented the latest 3-year follow-up data from the START-FIT trial, garnering widespread attention. This report provides a comprehensive overview.
APPLE 2023 | Application of Arterial Therapy in Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Korean Experience

APPLE 2023 | Application of Arterial Therapy in Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Korean Experience

With the advancement and innovation in surgical techniques, interventions, radiofrequency ablation, and other treatment methods, there are increasing treatments for early hepatocellular carcinoma. Curative treatments, including liver resection, liver transplantation, interventional treatment, ablative treatment, and radiotherapy, have all achieved satisfactory results. However, how to effectively and minimally invasively treat early hepatocellular carcinoma and manage it in the long term, while ensuring patients achieve long-term survival and improving their quality of life, has been widely discussed in recent years. From July 6-8, 2023, the 13th Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert Meeting (APPLE 2023) was held in Seoul, South Korea. A special session on the evolving management of early HCC was set up. Notably, Dr. Hyo-Cheol Kim from Seoul University, introduced the application of arterial therapy in early hepatocellular carcinoma and shared experiences from Korean hospitals.
Dr. Oi-Lin Ng: Heterogeneity of Liver Cancer and its Biological Markers

Dr. Oi-Lin Ng: Heterogeneity of Liver Cancer and its Biological Markers

Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in China. In recent years, the application of targeted and immunotherapies has improved the survival of liver cancer patients. However, due to the high molecular heterogeneity of liver cancer, there is still a lack of biological markers for predicting clinical efficacy, and there is a significant difference in treatment responses among liver cancer patients. From July 6th to 8th, 2023, the 13th Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Experts Conference (APPLE 2023) was grandly held in Seoul, South Korea. At the conference, Dr. Irene Oi-Lin Ng from the University of Hong Kong, China, shared recent advancements in the study of liver cancer's molecular heterogeneity and its biological markers, offering new insights into the development of novel clinical treatment strategies and precise drug efficacy predictions for personalized precision diagnosis and treatment. Hepatology Digest had an in-depth interview with Dr. Ng at the APPLE conference.
Dr. Hanchong Toh: Promising Prospects for Immune Adjuvant Therapy in Liver Cancer

Dr. Hanchong Toh: Promising Prospects for Immune Adjuvant Therapy in Liver Cancer

Liver cancer has become the 6th most common and the 3rd leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. For liver cancer patients, surgery is the preferred method to completely eliminate tumors and achieve long-term survival. However, the majority of liver cancer patients still face late diagnoses and low survival rates. In recent years, the systemic treatment of liver cancer has progressed rapidly, with new immunotherapies and targeted drugs emerging, promoting continuous innovation in liver cancer treatment concepts and schemes. From July 6-8, 2023, the 13th Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert Meeting (APPLE 2023) was grandly held in Seoul, South Korea. At the conference, Dr. Hanchong Toh from the National Cancer Centre Singapore shared the latest developments in immune adjuvant therapy for liver cancer.