Treatment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancers: Open Question, Challenge, and Future Directions

Dear Colleagues,

The rates of hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) malignancies are rising. Surgery is the cornerstone of treatment. However, only marginal improvements in patient survival have been achieved over the past few decades. Anatomical localisation of the tumours in the vicinity of critical vascular structures, disease diffusion (e.g., peritoneal carcinomatosis, oligometastatic disease), and aggressive tumour biology are often responsible for poor outcomes. Recently, more aggressive approaches have been adopted, including extensive vascular resection, neoadjuvant treatments, and locoregional therapies. Liver transplantation (LT) is a well-recognised treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is increasingly being considered in cholangiocarcinoma and colorectal liver metastases. Minimally invasive and ablative therapies are an adjunct or even replacement for resection. More recently, artificial intelligence in HPB surgery has shown promising implications in diagnosis and targeted treatment.

This Special Issue aims to focus on these extended indications and novel therapeutic approaches as they are paramount in improving the prognosis of these detrimental malignancies.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Role of surgery in the localised and borderline resectable tumours;
• Management of hepatic metastasis colorectal and non-colorectal;
• Treatment of oligometastatic disease (peritoneal carcinomatosis from hepatobiliary cancer);
• Complex surgery and extended resection;
• Centralization and tumour board role;
• Neoadjuvant vs adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy, locoregional therapy, target therapy, RFA);
• Adjuvant treatment;
• Transplant oncology;
• Artificial intelligence in HPB Surgery.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Francesco Giovinazzo
Dr. Stijn van Laarhoven
Guest Editors

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