Expert consensus on sequential surgery following conversion therapy based on combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and antiangiogenic targeted drugs for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (2024 edition)

Up to half of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, for which effective treatment options are lacking, resulting in a poor prognosis. Over the past few years, the combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and anti-angiogenic targeted therapy has proven highly efficacious in treating advanced HCC, significantly extending patients' survival and providing a potential for sequential curative surgery. After sequential curative hepatectomy or liver transplantation following conversion therapy, patients can receive long-term survival benefits. In order to improve the long-term survival rate of the overall population with liver cancer and achieve the goal of a 15% increase in the overall 5-year survival rate outlined in the Healthy China 2030 blueprint, the Professional Committee for Prevention and Control of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, Chinese Society of Liver Cancer, and the Liver Study Group of Surgery Committee of Beijing Medical Association organized in-depth discussions among relevant domestic experts in the field. These discussions focused on the latest progress since the release of the Chinese expert consensus on conversion therapy of immune checkpoint inhibitors combined antiangiogenic targeted drugs for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (2021 Edition) and resulted in a new consensus on the modifications and supplements to related key points. This consensus aims to further guide clinical practice, standardize medical care, and promote the development of the discipline.