commentary Archives - Page 2 of 6

ILTS 2023 | Liver Resection or Thermal Ablation as a Bridge to Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma – DELTAS-HCC Study

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.18

Liver transplantation is one of the curative treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, due to the limited availability of liver donors compared to the number of patients awaiting transplantation, only a small number of HCC patients can receive liver transplantation. Previous studies have shown that local treatment before liver transplantation in HCC patients can effectively prevent tumor progression, increase the transplant rate, and reduce the postoperative recurrence rate. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and ablation techniques such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation, and percutaneous ethanol injection are the most commonly used bridge therapies before liver transplantation. At the International Liver Transplantation Society (ILTS) annual meeting held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from May 3 to 6, 2023, Dr. Catherine Lamarque and her colleagues from the Henri Mondor Hospital in France reported on a clinical study (DELTAS-HCC) that showed that liver resection or thermal ablation can be effective bridges to liver transplantation for HCC and do not adversely affect patient outcomes before and after transplantation.

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

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.17

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. Wai-Kay Seto: Balancing the Risks and Benefits of Long-Term HBV Treatment

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.17

The World Health Organization (WHO) has set ambitious goals in its Action Plan for the Elimination of Viral Hepatitis: by 2030, the diagnosis rate for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) should reach 90%, the treatment rate for eligible patients should be 80%, new infections should decrease by 90%, and related deaths should decrease by 65%. However, recent data shows that in mainland China and Hong Kong, the diagnosis rates for CHB are only 19% and 27%, respectively, and the treatment rates are only 11% and 22%, respectively. Globally, the diagnosis and treatment rates for CHB are only 10% and 5%, respectively. Achieving WHO's 2030 goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat remains a daunting challenge. At the 13th Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert Meeting (APPLE 2023), Dr. Wai-Kay Seto from the University of Hong Kong, China, was invited to give a special report on the risks and benefits of long-term HBV treatment.

Congratulations! Dr. Jian Zhou has been elected as the President-elect of the Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert Alliance (APPLE)

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.17

From July 6th to 8th, 2023, the 13th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert Alliance (APPLE) was held in Seoul, South Korea, with the participation of nearly 1000 experts and scholars in the field of liver cancer from around the world. The current President and internationally renowned hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon, Dr. Norihiro Kokudo, announced during the general assembly of APPLE members that Dr. Jian Zhou from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, China, has been elected as the President-elect of APPLE through a vote by the APPLE Executive Council. Dr. Zhou expressed his gratitude upon his election, stating that he will uphold tradition, foster innovation, and strive to achieve breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer.

Dr. Huibiao Zhang: Three Osimertinib Adjuvant Studies Shine at ELCC, Adding New Evidence for Early-Stage Lung Cancer Treatment

By Lisa Cui 2024.01.17

The European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) is one of the most anticipated academic conferences in the field of lung cancer, jointly organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). Since its inception in 2008, ELCC has become one of the premier conferences for professionals in this field. The 2023 European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, from March 29 to April 1. This conference featured five abstracts on osimertinib, including three adjuvant treatment studies. This article summarizes the latest research results and invites Professor Zhang Huibiao from Fudan University-affiliated Huadong Hospital to provide expert commentary from the perspective of thoracic surgery.

Dr. Zhengfei Zhu: Can EGFR-TKI Combined with Local Consolidative Therapy Achieve “1+1＞2”?

By Peter W. PENG 2024.01.15

The 2023 European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) is taking place in Copenhagen, the capital of the fairy tale kingdom of Denmark. On the first day of the conference, a session of oral presentations showcased the Phase II randomized study data on EGFR-TKI combined with local consolidative therapy for treating EGFR mutant metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) . Dr. Zhengfei Zhu from Fudan University Affiliated Tumor Hospital provides commentary on these research findings.

Dr. Huaqing Wang: Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma (PMBCL) Benefits More Significantly from Axi-Cel Treatment

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.15

From June 8th to 11th, 2023, the 28th European Hematology Association Congress (EHA) will take place in Frankfurt, Germany, in both online and offline formats, organized by the European Hematology Society. As the largest international conference in the field of European hematology, the EHA Congress will cover various scientific topics, clinical and basic research, benign and malignant hematology, and discuss the latest developments in the field of hematology. At this year's EHA Congress, a study from Italy (abstract S231) explored the differences in the efficacy and survival outcomes of CAR-T cell therapy for different subtypes of B-cell lymphoma patients, drawing significant attention. To gain a deeper understanding of this study, Oncology Frontier conducted an exclusive interview with Professor Wang Huaqing from Tianjin People's Hospital of Nankai University, who provided detailed insights into the research.

IAS 2023 | What are the sequelae of MPOX? Does HIV increase the risk of hospitalization due to MPOX?

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.14

The 12th International AIDS Association HIV Science Conference (IAS 2023) was held in Brisbane, Australia from July 23 to 26, 2023. In the oral reports of the conference, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that global monitoring data for MPOX in 2022 showed that half of the patients with MPOX were HIV carriers. However, HIV is not a risk factor for increased hospitalization due to MPOX. Another study based on interviews with MPOX patients in Australia indicated that most patients had negative experiences with the disease and sequelae related to MPOX.

IAS 2023 | Short-course tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment does not affect the virologic efficacy of INSTIs in treating HIV

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.14

People Living With HIV (PLWH) are at high risk of active tuberculosis (TB). Guidelines both domestically and internationally suggest that PLWH with positive latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening and those with a history of close contact with active TB should receive TB preventive treatment. However, commonly used preventive treatment regimens such as rifampin and rifapentine have potential drug interactions with HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART). A multi-center retrospective study from Taiwan, China, presented at the 12th International AIDS Society HIV Science Conference (IAS 2023) showed that ART based on integrase inhibitors (INSTIs) combined with rifapentine-based short-course TB preventive treatment does not affect the patient's sustained HIV virologic suppression rate.

IAS 2023 | RESPOND Study: INSTIs Might Indeed be “A Bit Sweet”

By Mourabit Halima 2024.01.14

Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are associated with weight gain, but this weight gain doesn't harm survival or increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. So, does the weight gain associated with INSTIs lead to a higher risk of diabetes? At the recent 12th International AIDS Society (IAS) HIV Science Conference (IAS 2023), the renowned RESPOND cohort study from Europe and America indicated that INSTIs might increase the risk of diabetes onset. Even after adjustment, the onset risk remains statistically significant.