Special Interview with Dr. Marcello Di Martino, A.O.R.N. Cardarelli Hospital
On July 1, 2026, Hepatoma Research had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Marcello Di Martino from the Department of Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplant Surgery, A.O.R.N. Cardarelli, Naples, Italy, an Editorial Board Member of the journal and an internationally active hepatobiliary surgeon. During the interview, Prof. Di Martino shared his perspectives on the evolving role of hepatobiliary surgery, artificial intelligence, minimally invasive surgery, and multidisciplinary treatment strategies for liver malignancies.
Prof. Di Martino began by reflecting on his academic journey, describing how his surgical training in both Spain and the United Kingdom shaped his interest in hepatobiliary surgery before returning to Italy. He explained that his current research focuses on two major areas: expanding surgical strategies for liver malignancies in the era of immunotherapy and targeted therapies, and exploring the clinical application of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence in hepatobiliary surgery. He emphasized that advances in systemic therapies are broadening surgical indications for selected patients, with transplant oncology and aggressive surgical approaches following favorable treatment responses becoming increasingly important research directions.
During the interview, Prof. Di Martino discussed the rapidly growing role of artificial intelligence in surgical practice. He noted that AI has demonstrated considerable potential across the entire perioperative pathway, including preoperative treatment planning, intraoperative image guidance, and postoperative prediction of complications and long-term survival. Although many AI-based prediction models remain at the research stage and have not yet been incorporated into routine clinical guidelines, he believes these technologies will play an increasingly important role in supporting clinical decision-making as evidence continues to accumulate.
Prof. Di Martino further highlighted that the greatest unmet clinical need currently lies in the preoperative setting, where AI-assisted analysis of imaging and machine learning models may help clinicians evaluate complex or borderline cases more accurately and select the most appropriate treatment strategies for individual patients. He also pointed out that the implementation of intraoperative AI technologies requires substantial computational infrastructure and multidisciplinary collaboration, limiting their availability to a relatively small number of highly specialized centers worldwide.
Looking ahead, Prof. Di Martino expressed optimism about the future integration of surgery, artificial intelligence, and precision oncology. He emphasized that continued international collaboration, together with advances in computational technologies and multidisciplinary care, will be essential for translating AI from research into routine clinical practice and further improving outcomes for patients with liver malignancies.
We sincerely thank Prof. Di Martino for sharing his valuable expertise and perspectives. His insights into hepatobiliary surgery, artificial intelligence, and multidisciplinary liver cancer management provide valuable guidance for future research and clinical innovation. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Prof. Di Martino to promote high-quality research and international academic exchange in hepatobiliary surgery and liver cancer.
Interview Questions
Q1: Could you briefly share your academic journey and explain how your research interests in hepatobiliary surgery have evolved over the years?
Q2: Over the past few years, minimally invasive surgery and AI-assisted clinical decision-making have developed rapidly. From your perspective, how are these innovations changing everyday clinical practice?
Q3: Among the current applications of artificial intelligence in hepatobiliary surgery, which areas do you believe still have the greatest unmet clinical need?
About the Interviewee:
Dr. Marcello Di Martino is an Italian hepatobiliary surgeon whose research focuses on hepatobiliary surgery, colorectal liver metastases, surgical oncology, and artificial intelligence in surgery. He has received international training in Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom and has been actively involved in numerous international multicenter studies.
Prof. Di Martino is an active member of several leading European surgical organizations, including the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (E-AHPBA) and the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO). Through his clinical practice and collaborative research, he continues to contribute to the advancement of hepatobiliary surgery and translational surgical oncology.
Editor: Vivienne Yan
Production Editor: Xingyue Luo
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Hepatoma Research
