Hepatology

Top Medical News
Tumour immune barrier determines immunotherapy efficacy in HCC
15 hours ago
A tumour immune barrier (TIB) structure formed by the interaction of SPP1+ macrophages and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) appears to influence the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), reveals a study.
Oral HBV cccDNA inhibitor a promising cure against chronic HBV infection
Yesterday
A recent study has found a small-molecule covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) inhibitor that reduces levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) cccDNA. This discovery offers a new way to cure patients with chronic HBV infection.
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate as good as entecavir for patients with HBV-related liver cancer
2 days ago
Treatment with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) yields similar rates of recurrence and overall survival as does entecavir in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to a study.
Time-restricted eating offers no additional benefits in adults with obesity, NAFLD
24 Mar 2023
Time-restricted eating does not appear to be more effective than daily calorie restriction in terms of improving intrahepatic triglyceride content, body fat, and metabolic risk factors for adults with obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), according to a study.
Telbivudine use during pregnancy safe, effective in HBsAG-positive mothers
20 Mar 2023
Use of telbivudine (LdT) during the second trimester of pregnancy helps prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus, reveals a study. In addition, treatment with LdT during pregnancy is safe in the long term for both mothers and infants.
Alcohol intake tied to poor survival in patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis
10 Mar 2023
People with alcohol-related compensated cirrhosis must quit drinking any alcoholic beverage entirely if they want to live longer, a recent study suggests.
Selgantolimod well tolerated, induces serologic changes in CHB
09 Mar 2023
Treatment with the oral Toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) agonist selgantolimod once weekly for 24 weeks is well tolerated and generally safe in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) under viral suppression, according to a recent study.
Special Reports
Reducing risks and improving long-term outcomes in patients with CHB
Prof. Vincent Wong, Prof. Ray Kim, Dr. Tan Poh Seng, 10 Sep 2019
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a major public health concern because of its worldwide distribution and potential adverse sequelae, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). At a recent symposium held during the GIHep Singapore 2019, Professor Vincent Wong from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Professor Ray Kim from the Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, US, discussed antiviral treatments for CHB, with a focus on the novel agent tenofovir alafenamide (Vemlidy®). Dr Tan Poh Seng from the National University Hospital, Singapore, chaired the symposium.
Relationship between tumour response to systemic therapy and overall survival in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
Dr Raghav Sundar, 09 Sep 2019

Overall survival (OS) is currently the primary criteria in assessing the efficacy of a cancer treatment. Dr Raghav Sundar, a consultant medical oncologist at the National University Hospital, Singapore, details the crucial role played by tumour response in evaluating treatment efficacy, with a focus on the multiple kinase inhibitor lenvatinib in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).  

Conference Reports
SBRT plus sorafenib improves survival in HCC
Stephen Padilla, 23 Feb 2023
Treatment with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) followed by sorafenib results in better overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), with no increase in adverse events (AEs), compared with sorafenib monotherapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as shown in a phase III study presented at the 2023 ASCO GI Cancers Symposium.
Bepirovirsen shows promise in controlling chronic HBV infection
Roshini Claire Anthony, 19 Dec 2022

Weekly bepirovirsen treatment may help reduce HBsAg* and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels in patients with chronic HBV infection, the phase IIb B-Clear study showed.

ALXN1840 generates rapid, sustained copper mobilization in Wilson disease
Audrey Abella, 15 Dec 2022
In individuals with Wilson disease (WD), a rare disease of copper metabolism, ALXN1840 led to significantly greater copper mobilization compared with standard of care (SoC), findings from a rater-blinded phase III study have shown.
Maralixibat improves pruritus across all PFIC types
Elaine Soliven, 14 Dec 2022
Treatment with maralixibat significantly reduced the severity of pruritus in children with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) in the MARCH-PFIC* study presented at The Liver Meeting 2022.
Odevixibat improves pruritus, reduces bile acids in children with ALGS
Elaine Soliven, 13 Dec 2022
Treatment with odevixibat, a potent, selective IBAT* inhibitor, significantly improved pruritus and reduced serum bile acid levels in children with Alagille syndrome (ALGS), according to the ASSERT** trial presented at The Liver Meeting 2022.
Resmetirom safe, effective in improving NASH fibrosis markers
Audrey Abella, 12 Dec 2022
Treatment with the selective THR-β* agonist resmetirom for 52 weeks was well-tolerated and effective in reducing markers of NASH** fibrosis in a well-compensated Child-Pugh (CP)-A NASH population, a phase III trial has shown.
Midodrine a novel option for PICD prevention in ACLF
Elvira Manzano, 06 Dec 2022
Oral midodrine may be a good alternative to intravenous albumin for preventing paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction (PICD) in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) undergoing modest-volume paracentesis for ascites, suggests a new study.