On November 15, 2025, the Shanghai Longemont Hotel hosted the grand opening of the "Who Competes with the Best" Asia Liver Cancer Perioperative Invitational Tournament. This conference brought together top global experts, scholars, and young physicians in the field of liver cancer for in-depth discussions focused on the TALENT series research findings, conversion therapy strategies, and clinical practice innovations. It established a high-level academic exchange platform aimed at "fighting for a chance of tumor-free survival" for liver cancer patients.

Pioneering Heavyweight Research: Unlocking New Paradigms in Liver Cancer Treatment

In the opening speech, Academician Dong Jiahong, President of Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital affiliated with Tsinghua University, emphasized that the TALENTACE and TALENTOP studies, led by Chinese scholars, demonstrate the innovative strength of Chinese liver cancer research with groundbreaking data. These two studies focus on perioperative treatment for intermediate and advanced liver cancer, confirming the significant efficacy of combining local and systemic therapies, offering hope for improved long-term survival and quality of life for patients worldwide with intermediate and advanced liver cancer. 

Ms. Han Shuang, Head of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Roche Pharma China, pointed out that adhering to its "In China, For China, rooted in China to serve the world" strategy, Roche's "T+A" regimen (atezolizumab plus bevacizumab) has impacted the lives of over forty thousand Chinese liver cancer patients and their families in the five years since its launch. The success of the TALENT series research confirms the capability of original Chinese research to meet global high standards. As a key country in liver cancer prevention and treatment, China is destined to become a global source of innovation in liver cancer. 

In the core academic session, Professor Zeng Yongyi from Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University and Professor Yang Zhengqiang from the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences interpreted the TALENTOP and TALENTACE studies, respectively. The TALENTOP study achieved successful conversion in 41.1% of patients, reducing the risk of treatment failure by 40%. The TALENTACE study set a new record with an 81.3% objective response rate (ORR), confirming the clinical value of the TACE-synchronized "T+A" regimen and providing a potent conversion option for patients with high tumor burden.

Collision of Ideas: Exploring the Optimal Path for Conversion Therapy

A debate session featured intense exchange of views centered on "TACE synchronized with T+A" versus "T+A sequenced with TACE". The pro-synchronization side emphasized its "fast, accurate, and forceful" approach, capable of rapidly shrinking tumors and reducing progression risk. The pro-sequencing side advocated for its ability to optimize the tumor microenvironment, enhance deep tumor reduction effects, and suit patients with large tumors or high burden. 

A pinnacle discussion focused on two key issues: first, how to extend the positive research results led by China to international populations; second, the criteria for successful conversion therapy and maintenance therapy strategies for patients achieving pathological complete response (pCR) post-surgery. Expert consensus indicated that Chinese liver cancer patients have characteristics such as high rates of hepatitis B infection and large tumor burden, necessitating supplementary international multi-center data to promote global guideline updates. Successful conversion is not limited to surgical resection but also includes local radical therapies like ablation and embolization. Postoperative maintenance therapy needs to be individualized based on the patient's risk of recurrence.

Integrated Diagnosis and Treatment: Innovative Biomarkers Assist in Full-Course Management of Liver Cancer 

Professor Wang Kui from the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital in Shanghai shared insights from the perspective of integrated diagnosis and treatment in her presentation "Exploring the Value of Innovative Biomarkers in the Full-Cycle Management of Liver Health". Compared with traditional methods, molecular detection technologies represented by miRNA7 show significant advantages in identifying very early-stage liver cancer and AFP-negative liver cancer, and have received high-level evidence recommendations in authoritative guidelines such as the "Primary Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines (2024 Edition)". The miRNA7 multi-modal fusion model, built on "big data + artificial intelligence" algorithms, integrates multiple clinical indicators to achieve early warning, dynamic monitoring, and risk stratification for high-risk liver cancer populations. This provides a powerful tool for full-cycle health management, demonstrating immense clinical application value.

Young Physicians Compete, Showcasing New Vitality in Clinical Practice 

The afternoon featured the finals of the "Asia Liver Cancer Perioperative Invitational Tournament", where 12 young physicians from China, Japan, Singapore, Macau, and other countries and regions competed on the same stage. The 12 excellent clinical cases shared were all based on the "T+A" regimen as the core treatment, with most cases applying the treatment concepts and regimens from the TALENTACE or TALENTOP studies, vividly demonstrating the translation from clinical research data to real-world practice. 

The cases covered directions such as sequential therapy for massive liver cancer, conversion surgery for unresectable liver cancer, and multimodal treatment for liver cancer with tumor thrombus. Examples included Yttrium-90 TARE combined with the "T+A" regimen achieving R0 resection for huge liver cancer, achievement of pathological complete response (pCR) after treatment with atezolizumab combined with bevacizumab, and multidisciplinary collaborative management of oligometastatic liver cancer. These fully reflected the broad application of the "local + systemic" combined model in liver cancer treatment and validated the effectiveness and feasibility of the TALENT series research findings in real clinical scenarios. 

After competition, the conference awarded multiple prizes: Excellent Case Award (Dr. Zhang Jianwen, Dr. Chen Xinyu, Dr. Liu Daoning, Dr. Xie Wenxuan), Best Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment Award (Dr. Wang Huanlin, etc.), Best Whole-Process Management Award (Dr. Zhang Yaodong, Dr. Ingrid Karmane Sumou), Best Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment Award (Dr. Yuichiro Mihara, Dr. Jin Yuepeng), and Best Surgical Technique Award (Dr. Hu Zhigang, Dr. Liao Mingheng), injecting momentum into the growth of young physicians.

Moving Forward Together: Towards a New Future of Tumor-Free Survival 

In concluding the conference, Professor Mao Yilei from Peking Union Medical College Hospital summarized that this event represented a collision and integration of Chinese and international liver cancer diagnosis and treatment concepts. Chinese liver cancer research has progressed from "catching up" to "leading the way", with the TALENT series research providing a Chinese solution for global liver cancer treatment. The future requires strengthened international cooperation to promote global sharing of clinical research data, while also focusing on the cultivation of young physicians to inject sustained innovative vitality into the field of liver cancer diagnosis and treatment. 

This conference built a bridge for global academic exchange on perioperative liver cancer treatment and promoted the international dissemination of China's original research achievements. The participating experts believe that through the joint efforts of global colleagues, by deepening multidisciplinary collaboration, optimizing treatment strategies, and advancing innovative research, it will undoubtedly bring hope for tumor-free survival to more liver cancer patients, collectively advancing towards new heights in liver cancer treatment.