University of Hong Kong Researchers Develop New Cancer Treatment

Researchers from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have been working on a new treatment strategy for liver cancer, according to a local news report by RTHK.

The HKU research team has enrolled 33 cancer patients to participate in the three-year study with promising results. Based on previous experiences treating liver cancer, approximately 10% of patients would be cancer free after traditional treatment methods, while 70% of patients tended to be unable to undergo surgery due to the sheer size of their tumours.

The new treatment strategy comprises a three-step approach: combining radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, which can effectively shrink the size of the tumour in 55% of the patients, allowing them to undergo tumour removal surgery.

Some patients were successfully cured due to this three-step approach, leading to complete tumour necrosis.

Albert Chan, clinical professor and leader of the study, was quoted as saying the approach was significant in increasing patients’ chances of survival.

“Conventionally, we only use one single treatment modality to treat inoperable liver cancer. The response rate is about 10%... but now we combine three treatment modalities, radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy,” Chan told RTHK.

While the treatment has already been adopted in public hospitals, it can now be expanded to benefit more patients.