Shanghai, January 10 – At the "2026 Standardization Initiative - Chinese Liver Cancer Academic Annual Conference," the expert finalization and release of the National Health Commission's "Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Liver Cancer (2026 Edition)" (hereinafter referred to as the Guidelines) took place. As the world's first liver cancer molecular detection product approved by the NMPA, the 7-microRNA Detection Kit (miRNA7) from Dunwill Medical was explicitly recommended by the Guidelines.

Behind the Guideline Innovation Lies the "Value Ascension" of Early Screening and Diagnosis

Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in China, with 42.4% of global liver cancer cases occurring in the country^[1]. Concurrently, with the continuous advancement of medical research, the paradigms for liver cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation are undergoing unprecedented transformation. In response to the prevention and control landscape and the rapidly evolving diagnostic and therapeutic technologies for liver cancer, the new edition of the Guidelines not only maintains the scientific rigor and practicality of previous versions but also introduces bold structural innovations. Notably, it is the first to dedicate a standalone chapter to "Prevention, Screening, and Surveillance," systematically incorporating primary prevention of liver cancer, identification of high-risk populations, and dynamic follow-up pathways.

Experts emphasize that individuals at high risk for liver cancer should undergo screening at least every six months. In addition to traditional ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing, combining miRNA7 testing can enhance the sensitivity of early diagnosis. This recommendation is based on evidence from multiple real-world studies——data shows that the detection rate of miRNA7 in very early-stage liver cancer is significantly superior to that of AFP, particularly suitable for individuals with AFP-negative results or borderline lesions difficult to judge by imaging, providing clinicians with a more reliable tool for early screening.

The implementation of this concept heavily relies on accurate and reliable early diagnostic tools. The new Guidelines' recommendation for novel biomarkers, including Dunwill Medical's original plasma miRNA7 assay, stems from the urgent clinical need for higher-performance screening methods. The excellent sensitivity and specificity of miRNA7 have been validated by multiple clinical studies, offering clinicians earlier and more precise risk warnings, thereby facilitating the translation of the "early diagnosis and treatment" principle advocated by the new Guidelines into actionable clinical pathways.

Launching a Project: Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration to Build the "Quality Baseline" for Precision Diagnosis

Innovation in concepts requires solid practice as its foundation. On January 11, as a key component of the annual conference, the "Exchange Meeting on Precision Diagnosis and Quality Improvement for Hepatobiliary Tumors" was successfully held. This meeting brought together leading domestic clinical experts, pathologists, and representatives from innovative enterprises, with the core objective of establishing and promoting standardized criteria and quality control systems for precision diagnosis of hepatobiliary tumors.

During the launch ceremony, Academician Fan Jia, Academician Zhou Jian, Professor Sun Huichuan, and Professor Ji Yuan from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Professor Cong Wenming from Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University; and Mr. Liu Zhanjie, General Manager of Junshi Bio, a subsidiary of Dunwill Medical, jointly pressed their handprints, formally initiating this significant collaborative project aimed at promoting standardization and homogenization in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatobiliary tumors.

Launch ceremony guests from left to right: Professor Sun Huichuan (Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University), Professor Ji Yuan (Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University), Academician Fan Jia (Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University), Professor Cong Wenming (Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University), Academician Zhou Jian (Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University), Mr. Liu Zhanjie (General Manager of Junshi Bio, subsidiary of Dunwill Medical)

This collaboration is built upon the long-term, profound mutual trust between Dunwill Medical and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. A classic achievement of their industry-academia-research integration——the jointly developed “Human Cholangiocarcinoma 5-Gene Mutation Detection Kit”by the team of Academician Fan Jia, Academician Zhou Jian, and Dunwill Medical was successfully registered in April 2025.  As the world's first product of its kind, this kit provides an original "Chinese tool" for precise subtyping and medication guidance of cholangiocarcinoma, a refractory tumor. Its success validates the efficient collaborative model of "clinical challenges driving research, and innovative outcomes feeding back into clinical practice."

Responding to the Call of Our Era with Continuous Innovation

From the strategic restructuring of prevention and screening in the new Guidelines to the systematic strengthening of diagnostic standards through the quality improvement project, this academic event at the beginning of 2026 outlines a clear advancement path for the cause of liver cancer prevention and treatment in China.

Dunwill Medical is deeply honored to have been intensively involved in this process, from having its original biomarker recommended by the Guidelines, to collaborative achievements supporting clinical practice, and participating in building the future of industry quality. All of this motivates us to persistently respond to the most urgent clinical needs with cutting-edge original research, and to deliver the most reliable diagnostic products with the most rigorous quality standards.

We believe that only when innovative technology, authoritative standards, and stringent quality converge can the vision of "shifting the focus forward" in liver cancer prevention and control be accelerated into reality. Dunwill Medical is committed to continuing to work shoulder-to-shoulder with all peers, contributing wisdom and strength to implement "Healthy China 2030" and elevate the level of hepatobiliary tumor diagnosis and treatment in China.

References:

[1] Chan, Stephen Lam, et al. "The Lancet Commission on addressing the global hepatocellular carcinoma burden: comprehensive strategies from prevention to treatment." The Lancet, vol. 406, no. 10504, 2025, pp. 731-778.