Topic: Current Strategies for the Treatment of Intermediate Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a major global health challenge as the most common type of primary liver cancer. The intermediate stage of HCC, categorized as stage B by the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system, presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for treatment. This Special Issue of Hepatoma Research focuses on current strategies for treating intermediate HCC, highlighting the latest advances and identifying gaps where further research is needed. The current treatment landscape for intermediate HCC typically involves a variety of locoregional therapies, which are the cornerstone of management for this stage. Among these, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the most commonly applied treatment, offering survival benefits. However, limitations exist, and not all patients are ideal candidates for TACE. This issue explores recent innovations in TACE techniques alongside emerging therapies such as radioembolization, which are expanding the arsenal against intermediate HCC. Systemic treatments have also begun to play a crucial role, particularly with the advent of targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors. These treatments are reshaping the management of HCC, offering new hope for patients who cannot undergo locoregional therapies. This issue will explore how these systemic therapies can be integrated with traditional approaches, examining the efficacy and safety of combined treatment modalities. Furthermore, a multidisciplinary approach can significantly enhance the effectiveness of treatment for intermediate HCC. This involves collaboration among hepatologists, oncologists, radiologists, and surgeons to tailor the best possible treatment strategy for each patient. In this Special Issue, we will present case studies and research that showcase successful multidisciplinary strategies, providing a comprehensive view of their benefits. Looking ahead, the future of treating intermediate HCC seems promising with the potential integration of personalized medicine and genetic profiling. These advancements could lead to more tailored and effective treatment regimens, improving patient outcomes. This Special Issue aims to spark a conversation about these future directions, encouraging continued research and innovation in HCC treatment.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Evaluating the efficacy of TACE in combination with novel systemic therapies;

2. The role of radiofrequency ablation as a supplemental treatment in intermediate HCC;

3. Recent advancements in radioembolization techniques and materials;

4. Comparative studies of TACE versus systemic therapies for intermediate-stage patients;

5. The impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors on survival rates in intermediate HCC;

6. Integration of genetic profiling into treatment planning for intermediate HCC;

7. Case studies on the use of multidisciplinary approaches for intermediate HCC treatment;

8. Long-term outcomes of combining locoregional therapies with systemic treatments;

9. The role of patient selection criteria in the success of emerging treatments;

10. Development and clinical trials of new targeted therapies for HCC;

11. Challenges and solutions in the management of side effects from current intermediate HCC treatments;

12. The economic impact of advanced HCC treatments and cost-effectiveness analyses;

13. Patient quality of life assessments with different treatment modalities;

14. The evolving role of artificial intelligence in predicting treatment outcomes for intermediate HCC;

15. Review of global treatment practices and their outcomes in intermediate HCC.

30 Sep 2024