Chinese expert consensus on conversion and perioperative therapy of primary liver cancer (2024 edition)

In China, over half of liver cancer patients are in advanced stage at initial diagno-sis, losing the opportunity for curative surgical resection, and part of resectable patients have a high postoperative recurrence rate, resulting in poor overall survival. Innovations in surgical techniques and advancements in systemic and locoregional treatments have paved the way for novel and multi-combination conversion treatment strategies. These approaches offer selected advanced liver cancer patients the prospect of tumor shrinkage and downstaging, ultimately facilitating surgical interven-tion, so as to achieve long‑term survival benefits. Furthermore, further exploration has been taken in timing of surgery, assessment of lesions, prediction of efficacy, management of complications in the context of conversion and perioperative therapy. Based on previous edition of guideline, the updated Chinese Expert Consensus on Conversion and Perioperative Therapy of Primary Liver Cancer (2024 Edition) aims to collect and summarize current clinical experience of conversion therapy and peri-operative therapy, propose remaining problems that need to be solved in conversion therapy and peri-operative therapy and provide a foundation for further research and development of liver cancer treatment in clinical practice.