Special Interview with Prof. Lewis R. Roberts from Mayo Clinic

On January 12, 2024, the Editorial Office of Hepatoma Research had the honor of conducting a special interview with Prof. Lewis R. Roberts from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, USA. The interviewer, Dr. Terry Cheuk-Fung Yip, hails from the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

In this insightful interview, Prof. Roberts provided a detailed overview of various risk factors for hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers (HBP cancers), combined with the latest research advances and discussed trends and progress in early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of these cancers. Furthermore, drawing from his previous internship experience in Ghana, he thoroughly analyzed the reasons behind the high burden of HBP cancers in Africa, highlighting the main obstacles and challenges currently faced in the region. Prof. Roberts also shared his inspiring story and the motivation behind establishing the Africa HepatoPancreatoBiliary Cancer Consortium (AHPBCC). He described the goals and future direction of the upcoming 3rd AHPBCC conference in Kenya, calling on relevant groups in the industry, including patients, healthcare workers, organizations, and communities, to join in raising the prevention awareness of these cancers. The aim is to reduce the burden of HBP cancers in Africa and contribute to global public health security.

Interview Questions

1. Prof. Roberts, your research centers on the mechanisms behind the development of hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers. These cancers are often diagnosed at a late stage, after the primary tumor has spread to adjacent or distant organs, precluding curative therapy. Could you elaborate on the reasons behind the late diagnosis of these cancers? Additionally, what are the different types of major risk factors for HBP cancers?

2. Prof. Roberts, as the head of the Hepatobiliary Cancer Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, your focus includes advancing methods for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of primary liver, biliary, and pancreatic cancers. Could you discuss the recent advancements in early detection and diagnosis techniques for HBP cancers? Furthermore, what are the latest developments in treating these cancers?

3. As we know, Africans have higher incidences of these cancers than Americans, Asians, or Europeans. Africans are also more likely to be diagnosed with these cancers at younger ages and have a higher mortality from these cancers than many other racial/ethnic groups worldwide. So that’s why the HCC surveillance guideline has recommendations for starting surveillance at an earlier age for Africans. Could you tell us more about the reasons behind the high burden of HBP cancers in Africa? What are the major obstacles/challenges that are facing in Africa?

4. In your exploration of liver, biliary and pancreatic cancers, we’ve observed your engagement with the state of health care in Africa, leading to the establishment of AHPBCC. Could you elaborate on the motivations behind founding this consortium?

5. AHPBCC has conducted two successful conferences in the past two years in Egypt and Ghana and plans its third in Kenya this year. Can you elaborate more on the objectives and the target audience of the conference? As a co-founder, what are your aspirations for this upcoming conference? How do you envision the future trajectory and potential of AHPBCC?

Interviewee Introduction

Prof. Lewis Roberts is a distinguished figure in the field of medicine, holding the position of Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, USA. With a focus on studies of liver and biliary cancers, Prof. Roberts has made significant contributions to the medical community through his expertise and leadership.

He previously served as the External Co-Chair for The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma Projects jointly funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), National Institutes of Health (NIH). In this capacity, Prof. Roberts played a pivotal role in advancing research and understanding of the genomics and biology of liver cancer. Beyond his academic and research pursuits, Prof. Roberts is actively engaged in initiatives that promote global health. He holds the position of President at Africa Partners Medical, showcasing his commitment to addressing medical challenges on a broader scale. Additionally, as a Co-Founder of AHPBCC, he has played a crucial role in fostering collaboration and research in the field of hepatopancreaticobiliary cancers in Africa.

With a multifaceted approach to medicine, Prof. Roberts continues to be a driving force in both academic and global health initiatives, contributing significantly to the advancement of knowledge and medical care in hepatology and gastroenterology.

Interviewer Introduction

Dr. Terry Cheuk-Fung Yip is an excellent young Editorial Board member of Hepatoma Research and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Terry’s research interest is risk prediction in patients with chronic liver diseases using big healthcare database approaches. He received the Young Investigator Award in 2018, 2022, and 2023 at the APASL meeting, and the Early Career Investigator Award in Clinical/Translational Science in 2020 at the AASLD meeting.