Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Feb 15, 2025; 17(2): 99332
Published online Feb 15, 2025. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v17.i2.99332
Innovative applications and research progress of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Ting-Fang Yang, Mo-Wei Kong
Ting-Fang Yang, Department of Oncology, Guiqian International General Hospital, Guiyang 550018, Guizhou Province, China
Mo-Wei Kong, Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Yang TF wrote the manuscript; Kong MW reviewed and revised the manuscript; and all authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mo-Wei Kong, Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, No. 1 Section 1, Xiang Lin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China. 1600181272@qq.com
Received: July 19, 2024
Revised: October 23, 2024
Accepted: November 27, 2024
Published online: February 15, 2025
Processing time: 182 Days and 14.4 Hours
Abstract

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the study conducted by Wang et al, which explores hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and its synergistic strategies in managing advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC ranks as the fourth most common cause of cancer-related mortality globally and is frequently associated with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). The approach to managing HCC, particularly when PVTT is present, diverges markedly between Eastern and Western practices. These differences are rooted in variations in epidemiology, etiology, pathology, comorbidities, and prognosis. The paper delves into the diagnosis, classification, and treatment strategies for HCC with PVTT, as well as the evolving role and advancements of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in the therapeutic landscape of HCC.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Portal vein tumor thrombus; Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy; Comprehensive treatment strategies; Oncology

Core Tip: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) is an innovative regional chemotherapy technique for treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. It leverages the differential blood supply between liver tumors and normal liver tissue to deliver high concentrations of chemotherapy drugs directly to tumor tissues, enhancing efficacy while minimizing systemic side effects. Recent advancements in interventional radiology have made precise drug delivery possible, improving the safety and operability of HAIC. The combination of HAIC with targeted therapy and immunotherapy offers a more comprehensive and personalized treatment approach for hepatocellular carcinoma patients.