393 results

Dissecting the transcriptomic profile of CD163+ macrophages in HCC with VETC+ angiogenesis provides potential targets of treatment

Camilla De Carlo; Anna Rita Putignano; Reha Akpinar et al.

Liver Cancer, Pp 1-19 (2026) · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

HCC is characterized by a highly vascularized tumor microenvironment (TME), with VETC being a distinctive, frequent and prognostically unfavourable type of this vascular TME. VETC+ HCCs show lymphocyte deprivation and enrichment with large, foamy macrophages distributed close to endothelial cells…

Lenvatinib Added to Nivolumab and Ipilimumab Improves Tumor Control and Progression-Free Survival in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Kuan-Chang Lai; Chien-An Liu; Hao-Jan Lei et al.

Liver Cancer, Pp 1-20 (2026) · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Background In CheckMate-9DW, the suboptimal early tumor control of nivolumab–ipilimumab resulted in higher early mortality compared with the sorafenib/lenvatinib arm during the first 12 months. We evaluated whether adding lenvatinib to nivolumab–ipilimumab (NIL) improves outcomes versus…

Definition of Conversion Therapy and Neoadjuvant Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Consensus Guideline from the Japan Liver Cancer Association

Akihiko Ichida; Ryosuke Tateishi; Etsuro Hatano et al.

Liver Cancer, Pp 1-13 (2026) · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

With the advent of novel systemic therapies that provide high response rates, such as lenvatinib, atezolizumab–bevacizumab, durvalumab–tremelimumab, and nivolumab–ipilimumab, treatment strategies for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have markedly evolved, and discussions on…

Carvedilol versus Propranolol in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Byeong Geun Song; Myeongcheol Lee; Juhee Cho et al.

Liver Cancer, Pp 1-21 (2026) · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Introduction: Beta-blockers reduce portal hypertension, however, evidence comparing carvedilol and propranolol in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is lacking. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of carvedilol versus propranolol in patients with HCC. Methods: Using the Korean…

THE REGENERATION PARADOX IN LIVER CANCER: HOW CHRONIC INJURY TRANSFORMS HEALING INTO CARCINOGENESIS

Chun-Nan Yeh; Miin-Fu Chen

Liver Cancer, Pp 1-33 (2026) · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Background: The liver presents a fundamental paradox: it possesses unparalleled regenerative capacity yet demonstrates exquisite cancer susceptibility under chronic injury, with 85-90% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) arising from chronic liver disease. Despite decades of research, the field lacks…

Lenvatinib Versus Sorafenib in First-Line Treatment of Older Patients With Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Subgroup Analysis of the REFLECT Trial

Masatoshi Kudo; Arndt Vogel; Thomas R. Jeffry Evans et al.

Liver Cancer, Pp 1-23 (2026) · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Background: In the open-label, phase 3 REFLECT trial, lenvatinib had noninferior overall survival (OS) to sorafenib, as well as improved progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). We report post hoc safety and…

Alcohol plays a detrimental role in the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma related to steatotic liver disease

Stefano Gitto; Alessandro Vitale; Gianluca Svegliati-Baroni et al.

Liver Cancer, Pp 1-25 (2026) · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Introduction: The recently adopted nomenclature of steatotic liver disease (SLD) introduces new diagnostic categories, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the intermediate metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-related liver disease (MetALD), and…

An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of modern radiotherapy techniques for hepatocellular carcinoma

Sun Hyun Bae; Won Il Jang; Jeong Il Yu et al.

Liver Cancer, Pp 1-27 (2026) · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Introduction: The practice of radiotherapy (RT) is worldwide transitioning from 3-dimensional conformal RT to modern RT techniques for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, evidence remains insufficient to determine whether these advanced RT techniques improve treatment outcomes. Therefore, we…

Comparison of Annual Dynamic Abbreviated MRI and Biannual Ultrasound for HCC Surveillance in a High-Risk Group: Two-Center Cohort Study

Jeong Hee Yoon; Joon-Il Choi; Jeongin Yoo et al.

Liver Cancer, Vol. 15 No. 3 · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Introduction: Biannual ultrasound (US) is recommended for HCC surveillance, although its sensitivity for early-stage HCC is low. This study aims to compare the performance of annual dynamic abbreviated MRI (D-AMRI) and biannual US for HCC detection. Methods: This prospective, two-center cohort…

Comparative Study of Laparoscopic Hepatectomy, Open Hepatectomy, and Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation for Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Ancillary Study of the SURF Trial

Takashi Masuda; Yuichi Endo; Yoshikuni Kawaguchi et al.

Liver Cancer, Vol. 15 No. 3 · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Background: Laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing. To evaluate the efficacy of LH for small HCC (≤3 tumors within ≤3 cm), we compared short- and long-term outcomes between LH, open hepatectomy (OH), and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as an ancillary study of…

Conversion Ability of Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Insights from the International Converse Study

Alessandro Vitale; Jung Sun Kim; Giuseppe Cabibbo et al.

Liver Cancer, Vol. 15 No. 3 · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Introduction: The potential for curative conversion with immunotherapy-based systemic treatment used with noncurative intent in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains debated. This study aimed to provide a reliable epidemiological snapshot of response patterns to atezolizumab plus…

Real-World Treatment Patterns and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Results from the OREIOS Study

Stephen Lam Chan; Valeriy Breder; Yu-Yun Shao et al.

Liver Cancer, Vol. 15 No. 3 · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Background: OREIOS (NCT05239507) study determined the clinical characteristics, management patterns, and survival outcomes in patients with unresectable HCC (uHCC) from 12 countries across Asia, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. Methods: This non-interventional, retrospective study…

Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab versus Lenvatinib or Sorafenib as First-Line Treatment for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: CheckMate 9DW Japanese Subgroup Analysis

Masatoshi Kudo; Atsushi Hiraoka; Kazushi Numata et al.

Liver Cancer, Vol. 15 No. 3 · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Introduction: In the preplanned interim analysis of the phase 3 CheckMate 9DW trial, first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab demonstrated significant overall survival (OS) benefit versus lenvatinib or sorafenib (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65–0.96; p = 0.018) in patients…

Vessels That Encapsulate Tumor Cluster+ Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinomas Benefit of Antiangiogenic Therapy

Camilla De Carlo; Reha Akpinar; Barbara Durante et al.

Liver Cancer, Vol. 15 No. 3 · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Introduction: Two distinct molecular groups of HCC have been recently associated with a better response to atezolizumab-bevacizumab. One of these, “angiogenesis-driven,” is related to HCC vascularization. Vessels that encapsulate tumor clusters (VETCs) is a morphological form of angiogenesis…

The China Paradox in LEAP-012 Trial

Masatoshi Kudo

Liver Cancer, Vol. 15 No. 3 · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Disease Complexity and Nodule-Specific Responses to Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Sae Yumita; Sadahisa Ogasawara; Makoto Fujiya et al.

Liver Cancer, Vol. 15 No. 3 · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Background: Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a range of presentations and responses to immunotherapy. We sought to determine the effects of Atez/Bev in patients with advanced HCC and various prognostic factors. Methods: We analyzed 183 patients with advanced HCC who received…

Surrogate Endpoints for Overall Survival in Advanced Hepatocelluar Carcinoma in the Era of Immunotherapy: A Trial Level Meta-Analysis

Yacob Saleh; Zeynep Baskurt; Abdul Rehman Farooq et al.

Liver Cancer, Vol. 15 No. 3 · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Background: Systemic therapy containing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has become the standard of care for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A prior analysis from the pre-ICI era demonstrated a moderate correlation between progression-free survival (PFS) and overall…

Etiology-Based Treatment for Unresectable/Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Focus on Viral Hepatitis and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis

Frances Sze Kei Sun; Jeffrey Sum Lung Wong; Lung-Yi Mak et al.

Liver Cancer, Vol. 15 No. 3 · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are a keystone in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) therapy. However, preclinical evidence suggests that mice with pure metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)-related HCCs may not benefit from ICIs. This has tremendous…

Adverse Event Monitoring with Imaging: Prognostic Significance in Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab Therapy for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Jeayeon Park; Dong Ho Lee; Yunmi Ko et al.

Liver Cancer, Vol. 15 No. 3 · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as the first-line systemic therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Emerging evidence suggests that immune-related adverse events (irAEs) may be associated with improved ICI efficacy. This study evaluated the impact of…

Proton Beam Therapy for Untreated Hepatocellular Carcinoma Unsuitable for Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization

Hikaru Niitsu; Hirokazu Makishima; Naoyuki Hasegawa et al.

Liver Cancer, Vol. 15 No. 3 · 2026 · English · DOAJ Scopus

Introduction: Intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) derives limited benefit from transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), which has led to introduction of the concept of “TACE-unsuitable HCC.” Drug therapy may be more beneficial, but intrahepatic lesion control tends to be a problem…