International Hepatology

The treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has entered the era of targeted and immunotherapy, with combined regimens becoming the first-line standard. More combination therapies are still under exploration. At the recently concluded 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the CheckMate 9DW study announced positive results for the dual immunotherapy of anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4, positioning this "double star" regimen as a potential first-line treatment. Additionally, the conference revealed results from the first Phase II clinical trial of an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combined with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) as a second-line treatment following failure of first-line immunotherapy. Chinese researchers also reported on a Phase I clinical trial of a specific autologous armored-CAR-T cell therapy.

The 29th Annual Meeting of the European Hematology Association (EHA) was held from June 13-16, 2024, in Madrid, Spain. As the largest international conference in the field of hematology in Europe, it attracts numerous renowned experts and scholars each year to share and discuss innovative concepts, the latest scientific research, and clinical study results in hematology. At this year's meeting, several research findings from Professor Huilai Zhang's team at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital were selected. To gain a deeper understanding of the latest research progress in the field of lymphoma, "Oncology Frontier - Hematology Frontier" has invited Professor Lihua Qiu from the same team for an in-depth interpretation.

In a study conducted by Metzler F et al. from 2005-2007, involving 258 patients who received one course of Rituximab treatment, 46% had received the hepatitis B vaccine, 11% were Anti-HBc/anti-HBs positive, and less than 1% were HBV DNA positive. The study found that the average Anti-HBs level in vaccinated individuals dropped significantly from 80 IU/mL to 38 IU/mL (P<0.05) after Rituximab treatment. Among three patients with inactive HBV infection, HBV DNA became detectable, and ALT levels increased post-treatment. With the increasing use of antitumor drugs in recent years, HBV reactivation and hepatitis B flare-ups have become significant clinical concerns. We have invited Professor Jun Li from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University to discuss the comprehensive management of HBV reactivation related to antitumor treatment for the benefit of our peers.

Drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis, as a new and complex disease phenotype, has received widespread attention in recent years. On May 25, 2024, at the "8th International Forum on Drug-induced Liver Injury" in Malaga, Spain, Professor Raul J. Andrade of the Malaga Biomedical Research Center at the University of Malaga delivered a fascinating lecture on drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis. Our journal had the privilege of conducting an exclusive interview with Professor Andrade, delving into the specific characteristics of the disease, diagnostic challenges, treatment strategies, and future research directions. We have organized the content into an article, hoping to enhance clinicians' understanding of the disease, optimize patient treatment outcomes, and improve quality of life.

The recently concluded 2024 European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Annual Meeting provided a platform for hepatology experts and scholars from around the world to exchange and collaborate. This year's meeting brought together top liver disease experts from across the globe to discuss cutting-edge issues and the latest research advances in hepatology. Among the various topics, research on fatty liver disease was particularly noteworthy, not only for its relevance to the health and well-being of a large number of patients but also for its significance in the development of hepatology treatments. To keep our readers updated on the highlights of the conference, the editorial board of "Hepatology Digest" invited Professor Huiying Rao from Peking University People's Hospital to share insights on non-invasive diagnosis and assessment in the field of Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD), presenting the latest and most authoritative academic information to our readers.

Traditional screening methods in the field of liver cancer prevention and treatment face numerous challenges. At the 2024 European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Annual Meeting, the CLiMB trial, led by Professor Richard Van Etten, Director of the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center in the United States, achieved significant results in the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients using the innovative HelioLiver Dx testing technology. This research was recognized as a breakthrough and was presented orally (Abstract No. LBO-006). HelioLiver Dx testing technology, which detects multiple epigenetic methylation markers on circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and combines the analysis of various protein markers, successfully overcomes the limitations of ultrasound screening in terms of popularity and sensitivity. The study results show that HelioLiver Dx testing significantly surpasses ultrasound in sensitivity, especially in detecting small liver lesions less than 2 cm. We had an in-depth interview with Professor Van Etten and present the content for our readers.

At the recently concluded European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) annual meeting, Professor Frank Tacke from Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin presented a special report on the newly released "Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease" by EASL, the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO). This guideline covers the latest recommendations from the use of non-invasive diagnostic tools to treatment strategies, emphasizing the importance of managing obesity and diabetes and the need for multidisciplinary collaboration in the management of metabolic associated fatty liver disease. At the conference, Hepatology Digest invited Professor Frank Tacke to provide an authoritative interpretation of the guideline. Professor Tacke stated that this guideline is not only a significant achievement in the field of hepatology but also a major update to the global medical community's diagnostic and treatment plans for MAFLD patients. It places a stronger emphasis on practicality and operability in clinical practice, ensuring better health outcomes for MAFLD patients.

Traditional screening methods in the field of liver cancer prevention and treatment face numerous challenges. At the 2024 European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Annual Meeting, the CLiMB trial, led by Professor Richard Van Etten, Director of the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center in the United States, achieved significant results in the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients using the innovative HelioLiver Dx testing technology. This research was recognized as a breakthrough and was presented orally (Abstract No. LBO-006). HelioLiver Dx testing technology, which detects multiple epigenetic methylation markers on circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and combines the analysis of various protein markers, successfully overcomes the limitations of ultrasound screening in terms of popularity and sensitivity. The study results show that HelioLiver Dx testing significantly surpasses ultrasound in sensitivity, especially in detecting small liver lesions less than 2 cm. We had an in-depth interview with Professor Van Etten and present the content for our readers.