Researchers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU Medicine) have developed a promising new treatment for liver cancer that could significantly extend patients’ lives.

The therapy, known as aTACE, is an enhanced version of conventional chemoembolisation (cTACE). By combining a dehydrated form of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin with the oily agent lipiodol, the treatment allows the drug to stay concentrated in tumours for longer, improving its effectiveness.

In a multicentre trial of 77 patients, aTACE achieved a 90% complete tumour response rate, almost double that of the standard approach. Patients receiving the therapy lived a median of 53.3 months, around 17 months longer than those on conventional treatment.

Side effects were generally mild and short-lived. Researchers say the results mark a meaningful step forward in treating hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer, and could benefit more patients as larger trials progress.