Treatment to reduce liver cancer tumours is world’s first, Hong Kong researchers claim

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong have made a groundbreaking claim. They assert they are the first in the world to extend the life of a patient with advanced liver cancer. They achieved this by employing a novel treatment strategy that shrinks the tumour to a size suitable for a transplant. The Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine announced on Wednesday that the researchers had successfully treated a 65-year old resident suffering from stage-four liver cancer. They accomplished this by initially reducing the size of the tumour using a 'reduce and remove' treatment they had developed.

Professor Albert Chan Chi-yan, who co-led the research team, stated, 'There is actually no other effective treatment to shrink any stage-four cancer to stage one at the moment. This would be the first in the world. The recovery of the patient is encouraging. The team is honoured to provide new hope and possibilities for the treatment of liver cancer.

In November of the previous year, doctors had given 65-year old Wong Lok-wing a prognosis of about six months to live. This was due to the tumour, measuring 18. 2cm (7 inches) in diameter, that had metastasized to his main portal vein, which is responsible for blood transport to the liver. To treat Wong, the research team employed the 'reduce and remove' treatment. This enabled patients who were previously ineligible for a transplant to undergo the operation. The team utilized a combination of stereotactic body radiation therapy – a targeted tumour treatment – and immunotherapy to revert Wong’s tumour back to stage one.