Greetings
Hosting Chair: Masayuki Kurosaki
（Director, Musashino Red Cross Hospital）
Theme: "Identifying the Current Trends"
It is my great honor to serve as the Chair of the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Liver Cancer Association. The meeting will be held on July 17（Friday）and 18（Saturday）, 2026, at the Toranomon Hills Forum. It is a privilege to host this prestigious and long-standing academic society. My colleagues and I are working diligently to prepare for the event, and we sincerely hope to welcome many of our members to the venue.
In the latest（23rd）nationwide follow-up survey on primary liver cancer—an important project of our association—the median survival time for HCC has reached 5.6 years, and the 5-year survival rate is 53.6%. This remarkable national data clearly shows that the prognosis of HCC continues to improve. This progress is the result of persistent efforts in research on the biology, diagnosis, and treatment of liver cancer by our association, particularly through meticulous case reviews and the passionate interdisciplinary discussions among hepatologists, surgeons, pathologists, and radiologists—hallmarks of our society.
Nonetheless, many challenges surrounding liver cancer remain. As antiviral therapies have become more effective, the high-risk population for hepatocarcinogenesis has shifted from traditional viral hepatitis cases to those with post-viral eradication or suppression, and increasingly to non-viral liver diseases such as alcohol-related liver disease and MASLD. It is now essential to focus on therapeutic interventions not only for viral but also non-viral liver conditions, identify high-risk individuals in a personalized manner based on the underlying liver disease, and establish effective surveillance strategies.
Another pressing issue is the diagnosis of liver tumors with atypical imaging features, which are being seen more frequently in recent years. Re-evaluating the role of pathological diagnosis in these cases is crucial. While continuous advancements in systemic therapies—especially immunotherapies—are expected to significantly extend survival in liver cancer patients, their safety and efficacy must be verified in the real-world setting, where conditions differ from those in clinical trials.
Furthermore, the development of biomarkers, including genomic alterations and the tumor immune microenvironment, is urgently needed. With the advent of highly effective drug therapies, a new classification system for surgical resectability in HCC has been proposed. It is anticipated that this new standard will lead to a re-evaluation of the indications for surgical resection, local therapy, drug therapy, and radiation therapy. Many clinical issues still require multidisciplinary discussion, such as the sequential combination of systemic and local therapies, or conversion criteria following systemic treatment. As prognosis continues to improve, preservation of liver function becomes ever more important in supporting long-term treatment.
Considering these rapidly evolving issues, I have chosen the theme of this meeting to be "Identifying the Current Trends." By recognizing the latest “trends” in pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment across all departments involved in liver cancer care, I believe we can revitalize basic research, clinical practice, and clinical research with fresh perspectives. This will ultimately lead to the establishment of new treatment concepts and contribute to a dramatic improvement in liver cancer outcomes.
I hope this meeting will serve as an opportunity to grasp the latest trends, foster passionate cross-disciplinary discussions, and provide a platform where young professionals can also thrive. I sincerely look forward to your active participation.
