Special Interview with Prof. Alexander J. Thompson, The University of Melbourne
On May 25, 2026, Hepatoma Research interviewed Prof. Alexander J. Thompson following his presentations and discussions at the APASL 2026 meeting. During APASL 2026, Prof. Thompson participated in discussions related to HCV elimination barriers, HBV consensus guidelines, and liver disease management from the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) perspective. This interview aimed to further explore current research progress and clinical perspectives on viral hepatitis, HCC prevention, and metabolic liver disease in Australia.
During the interview, Prof. Thompson discussed several important topics related to HBV, HCV, and MASLD-related HCC. He emphasized that major barriers to HBV and HCV control still exist in real-world clinical practice, particularly regarding patient engagement, healthcare access, and long-term follow-up. He also highlighted the importance of community-based healthcare approaches and point-of-care testing in improving hepatitis management and long-term HCC prevention. In discussing post-SVR HCC surveillance, Prof. Thompson stressed the importance of future risk stratification strategies for patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. In addition, he shared his perspectives on the growing impact of MASLD-related liver disease on the global HCC burden and emphasized the future need for more individualized risk-based surveillance strategies and improved risk prediction tools.
Interview Questions:
Q1: At APASL, you participated in discussions on HCV elimination barriers, HBV consensus guidelines, and liver disease management from the GESA perspective. Despite major therapeutic advances, substantial gaps still remain between international guidelines and real-world implementation. From your perspective, what are currently the biggest barriers preventing effective HBV and HCV control in clinical practice, particularly in relation to long-term HCC prevention?
Q2: In the DAA era, viral eradication in HCV has become achievable for the vast majority of patients. However, residual HCC risk remains a major concern, particularly in patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. In your view, how should post-SVR HCC surveillance strategies evolve in the coming years?
Q3: As functional cure strategies for chronic hepatitis B continue to advance, including siRNA- and immune-modulating therapies, do you believe HBV-related hepatocarcinogenesis can eventually be substantially reduced, or will long-term oncogenic risk still persist despite functional viral control?
Q4: Looking ahead, do you believe the field of hepatology is entering a major epidemiological transition in which metabolic liver disease may eventually become the dominant driver of HCC worldwide? What challenges could this shift create for future prevention and surveillance strategies?
Q5: As MASLD-related HCC continues to increase globally, a substantial proportion of patients are developing HCC in the absence of cirrhosis. In this context, do you think current surveillance strategies remain adequate, or should the field move toward more individualized risk-based surveillance models?
About the Interviewee:
Prof. Alexander J. Thompson, MBBS/PhD/FRACP, is Professor-Director of Gastroenterology at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne and the University of Melbourne, Australia. He is also Honorary Adjunct Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology at Duke University Medical Center (USA). Prof. Thompson currently serves as President and Board Member of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) and previously served on the Executive Council of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL). He is internationally recognized for his contributions to viral hepatitis research, liver disease management, and HCC prevention.
Editor: Vivienne Yan
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Hepatoma Research
