On the afternoon of March 19, 2025, renowned global liver cancer expert Prof. Richard S. Finn visited Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) for academic exchanges with the center’s Liver Surgery Department. The visit focused on in-depth discussions about advancements in the diagnosis, treatment, and research of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while injecting fresh momentum into potential international collaborations.

Prof. Finn is a professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the UCLA David Geffen School, Director of the Signal Transduction Program at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and former President of the International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA). As the principal investigator (PI) or sub-investigator, his groundbreaking work in multiple landmark studies has reshaped international liver cancer guidelines.

Prof. Xu Ruihua, President of SYSUCC, warmly welcomed Prof. Finn, introducing the center’s clinical achievements and operations. Prof. Wei Wei, Assistant to President of SYSUCC, and Prof. Chen Minshan, Chief Mentor of the Liver Surgery Department, expressed hopes that the exchange would further strengthen Sino-U.S. collaboration in liver cancer innovation and global research partnerships.

Prof. Li Binkui, Director of the Liver Surgery Department, outlined the department’s developmental milestones, clinical research achievements, and future goals. Prof. Finn delivered a keynote lecture titled “Research Strategies and Perspective on HCC”, highlighting cutting-edge global trends in the field. Prof. Xu Li, Chief Physician of the department, shared insights on “Treatment of Advanced HCC in China,” emphasizing China’s distinctive approaches, such as locoregional combined systemic therapy strategies and conversion-surgery strategies, which have shown remarkable efficacy in treating advanced HCC patients.

Following the presentations, experts engaged in lively discussions on clinical practices, new drug development, and future directions in liver cancer care. Prof. Finn later toured the Liver Surgery Department’s wards, participating in bedside patient rounds and case discussions. These interactions facilitated a robust exchange of perspectives on treatment strategies between Chinese and U.S. experts.

Prof. Finn remarked that the visit profoundly broadened his understanding, noting that China’s rapid progress in health care and research has transformed international perceptions. He praised SYSUCC’s clinical research development and the advanced multidisciplinary treatment model, exemplified by the expertise of its HCC multidisciplinary team (MDT). He emphasized that while patients benefit from China’s innovative treatment paradigms, their participation in global multicenter clinical trials also grants access to pioneering drugs.

The two sides concluded by exploring future collaborative initiatives. Prof. Finn’s visit to Guangzhou not only promoted academic exchanges but also strengthened international ties. The SYSUCC Liver Surgery team aims to leverage this exchange to deepen collaborations with global experts, drive technological innovation and discipline construction, ultimately delivering higher-quality, precision care to patients.


 Written by: Xu Li, Li Binkui, Department of Liver Surgery