Conference Summary
Primary liver cancer imposes a considerable global disease burden, with 865,269 new cases reported by GLOBOCAN in 1922. In recent decades, both the incidence and mortality rates for HCC and iCCA, the two major clinical subtypes, have been rising in various regions of the world, particularly in the USA and Europe. Despite medical research advances, HCC continues to be the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with an estimated survival rate of 20%. The mortality rate for iCCA is even more dismal, currently at 9.0%. While there has been a downward trend in viral (HBV and HCV) related HCC mortality rates in the United States since 2015, the HCC mortality rates have been significantly increasing for alcohol-related and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Liver Disease (MASLD), both of which are predisposing fibro-inflammatory liver diseases. It has been estimated that alcohol contributes to 19% of liver cancer deaths globally and that MASLD has shown the fastest growth in liver cancer cases compared with other contributing factors, such as HBV or HCV and alcohol-associated liver disease. Of further concern is the recently reported upward trend in mortality of liver cancer in young adults being attributed to steatotic liver disease.

By focusing on new and emerging basic, translational, and clinical research aimed at addressing the critical challenges of primary liver cancer, this conference will foster new ideas and stimulate collaborations between liver cancer scientists. Additionally, it will provide inspiration for future research focused on furthering our understanding of primary liver cancer biocomplexity and advancing more effective molecular-based therapeutic and prevention strategies for this class of human cancers. This SRC also welcomes researchers of other gastrointestinal cancers (e.g., pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, colorectal and gastric cancers) that commonly metastasize to liver.