EASL Secretary-General: Doctor Thomas Berg Discusses Highlights of the Conference, NAFLD Renaming, and Future Directions for Fatty Liver and Hepatitis

EASL Secretary-General: Doctor Thomas Berg Discusses Highlights of the Conference, NAFLD Renaming, and Future Directions for Fatty Liver and Hepatitis

The 58th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL 2023) and the EASL Congress 2023 have brought forth a splendid academic gathering for the global hepatology community. The Hepatology Digest reporting team had the privilege of interviewing Doctor Thomas Berg, EASL Secretary-General and Head of the Hepatology Department at Leipzig University Hospital. He shared with us the highlights of this conference, his perspective on significant research developments, thoughts on the renaming of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), and insights into the future research directions for fatty liver and hepatitis B.
WHO to Release New Hepatitis B Guidelines, Focusing on Expanding Treatment Eligibility and Simplifying Diagnosis and Treatment Pathways

WHO to Release New Hepatitis B Guidelines, Focusing on Expanding Treatment Eligibility and Simplifying Diagnosis and Treatment Pathways

At the 58th European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Annual Meeting (EASL 2023) and EASL Congress 2023, Doctor Philippa Easterbrook, Senior Scientist at the Global Hepatitis Programme of the Department of HIV at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, attended the WHO-ECDC Joint Forum. She discussed the new directions being drafted in WHO's updated Hepatitis B guidelines, focusing on expanding simplified treatment criteria, service delivery, and innovative diagnostics. Hepatology Digest had the privilege to interview Doctor Philippa Easterbrook about WHO's 2030 goals, the progress of the new Hepatitis B guidelines, essential information, and the global challenges and opportunities in addressing Hepatitis B prevention and control.
Dr. Bo Dai: Research Progress in ASCO-GU 2023 prostate cancer

Dr. Bo Dai: Research Progress in ASCO-GU 2023 prostate cancer

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium for 2023 (ASCO-GU 2023) kicked off on February 16th in San Francisco, USA. Numerous innovative treatment studies have emerged in the fields of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC), and early/localized prostate cancer. These studies encompass a wide range of therapies, including androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), novel hormonal therapy (NHT), PARP inhibitors (PARPi), immunotherapy, nuclear medicine therapy, and localized treatments.
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.