Blazing a trail through hardships and polishing marking jode finer: history and future of study on liver cancer and liver surgery in China

In 2025, coinciding with the 110th anniversary of the establishment of Chinese Medical Association, the authors systematically review the evolution of liver cancer research and liver surgery in China from its infancy to systematic development, and summarize the unremitting efforts and outstanding contributions made by the Chinese Medical Association in the field of liver cancer research in China, focusing on four technical dimensions: the update of surgical resection technology, breakthroughs in liver transplantation technology, the establishment of liver cancer transformation treatment paradigm, and the construction of Chinese characteristic liver cancer staging. With the elaborating on the development trajectory of the discipline in detail, and analysis of key historical nodes and major milestone events, the authors aim to provide historical insights for the prevention and treatment of liver cancer in China, and provide reference for future development directions.