A team of researchers from the University of Hong Kong claims to have developed a revolutionary, first-in-the-world treatment that extends the life of a patient with late-stage liver cancer. According to the researchers, the new treatment shrinks the tumour to the point where it can be transplanted. The ‘ miracle’ treatment combines stereotactic body radiation therapy, a targeted tumour treatment, and immunotherapy to reduce the tumour’s size by reverting it to stage one. Professor Albert Chan Chi-yan, co-leader of the study team at the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, stated that his colleagues treated a 65-year-old patient with stage-four liver cancer by first decreasing the tumour with a “reduce and remove” approach that they created.
There is no other effective treatment to shrink any stage-four cancer to stage one at the moment
“There is no other effective treatment to shrink any stage-four cancer to stage one at the moment. The recovery of the patient is encouraging,” said Albert. “The team is honoured to provide new hope and possibilities for the treatment of liver cancer,” he added. Notably, the patient named Wong Lok-wing was given only about six months to live in November last year. He had a tumour that measured 18.2 centimetres in diameter and had spread across to his main portal vein which transports blood to the liver.
Against all odds, the researchers applied their “reduce and remove” technique as a last-ditch effort, and it worked. Wong received a chunk of liver donated by his son, Nathan, after a 12-hour procedure in August this year after the size of the cancerous tumour was reduced. Wong has been cancer-free since then. Albert stated that his team was expanding their treatment by investigating more immunotherapy. He also stated that the team intends to increase the rate of patient response to the treatment to 80%, up from 50% to 60% currently.
“We have confidence that we can continue this treatment, and our future direction is how we can enhance the efficacy of this regime so that more patients can benefit,” Chan said. Although the specific aetiology of liver cancer is unknown, it is frequently related to cirrhosis, a condition in which the organ is scarred or destroyed. Excessive alcohol use and a long-term hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infection are the leading causes of liver impairment. The growth of liver illnesses is largely due to lifestyle factors. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is becoming more common as a result of urbanization, changing dietary patterns, and sedentary lifestyles.