We had the pleasure of speaking with Prof. Teiji Kuzuya, the first and corresponding author of the Editor’s Choice Article in Current Oncology (ISSN: 1718-7729). Here, he shares insights into his academic journey, research focus, and the motivation behind his recent work.

“Characteristics and Prognosis of Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab Combination Therapy Who Achieved Complete Response”
by Teiji Kuzuya, Naoto Kawabe, Hisanori Muto, Yoshihiko Tachi, Takeshi Ukai, Yuryo Wada, Gakushi Komura, Takuji Nakano, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Kazunori Nakaoka et al.
Curr. Oncol. 2024, 31(10), 6218-6231; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol31100463
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/31/10/463.

The following is an interview with Prof. Teiji Kuzuya:

1. Could you please briefly introduce the main research content of the published paper?
In this study, we investigated the characteristics and prognosis of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who achieved complete response (CR) after treatment with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. All patients were initially considered ineligible for curative or locoregional therapy.
With the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitor–based therapy, the frequency of marked tumor shrinkage and complete response has clearly increased compared with the era of molecularly targeted agents alone. In our cohort, CR was achieved in 15% of patients with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab alone, and the CR rate increased to 20% when transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was added for residual intrahepatic lesions after tumor shrinkage.
In other words, even in patients with advanced HCC who were not candidates for local therapy at baseline, one in five patients eventually reached a clinical CR. Importantly, the prognosis of patients who achieved CR was extremely favorable. These results suggest that, in the era of immunotherapy, cancer-free status can be achieved in selected patients through a multidisciplinary strategy centered on systemic therapy.

2. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your current research?
I am a hepatologist involved in the clinical management and research of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. In daily practice, I perform not only systemic therapy but also locoregional and interventional procedures such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and I routinely apply multidisciplinary treatment strategies combining medical and locoregional therapies.
My current research focuses on systemic therapy for advanced HCC, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitor–based treatments, optimization of treatment sequencing, and the role of combining systemic therapy with locoregional interventions. I am also interested in the preservation of liver function during treatment and in identifying biomarkers that can predict treatment response and prognosis.
My goal is to generate evidence based on real-world clinical data that can directly improve daily practice.

3. How do you evaluate research trends in this field, and what advice would you give to early-career researchers who are interested in this research area?
Treatment of HCC has changed dramatically in recent years with the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitor–based combination therapies. The current challenge is no longer only which drug to use first, but how to maintain liver function, how to design optimal treatment sequencing, and how to combine systemic therapy with locoregional treatments.
In addition, the importance of real-world data is increasing. Many patients encountered in daily practice differ from those enrolled in clinical trials, and careful analysis of real-world cohorts can provide valuable information for clinical decision-making.
For early-career researchers, I would recommend starting from clinical questions that arise in daily practice. Research based on real clinical problems often leads to meaningful findings that can directly benefit patient care.

4. Why did you choose Current Oncology as a platform for publishing your work, and how was your experience?
We chose Current Oncology because this study focused on real-world outcomes and prognosis in patients with advanced HCC, and we wanted to share these findings with a broad clinical oncology audience. The journal publishes many clinically relevant studies, and we felt that it was an appropriate platform for our work.
The submission and peer-review process was smooth, and the reviewers’ comments were constructive and helpful in improving the manuscript. We appreciated the opportunity to present our findings to an international readership.

5. How do you think the open access way of publishing impacts authors?
Open access publishing is very important because it allows research findings to be shared with a wide audience without barriers. In the medical field, this is particularly meaningful, since published results can directly influence clinical practice and future research.
For authors, open access increases the visibility of their work and promotes international collaboration. At the same time, maintaining high standards of peer review and editorial quality is essential, and I believe that open access journals should continue to ensure both accessibility and scientific reliability.

6. In your opinion, which research topics will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
Several topics will be particularly important in future HCC research. One key area is the development of biomarkers that can predict response and long-term outcomes with immunotherapy-based treatments.
Another important issue is treatment sequencing. To achieve long-term survival, it is essential to determine how to select subsequent therapies and how to preserve liver function during treatment.
The role of multidisciplinary treatment is also becoming increasingly important. In clinical practice, combining systemic therapy with locoregional treatments such as TACE or RFA can lead to deeper responses and longer survival in selected patients.
In addition, the epidemiology of HCC is changing, with an increasing number of cases related to metabolic liver disease rather than viral hepatitis. Establishing optimal treatment strategies for these new patient populations will be an important research focus in the coming years.