Special Interview with Prof. Lianxin Liu: Vice President of the University of Science and Technology of China

On February 6, 2025, Mini-invasive Surgery (MIS) had the honor of conducting an interview with Prof. Lianxin Liu, Vice President of the University of Science and Technology of China and a distinguished Yangtze River Scholar awarded by the Ministry of Education of China. As a Regional Editor of MIS, Prof. Liu's participation added significant value to the discussion.

Prof. Liu, a key contributor to the "2024 Edition of the Technical Guidelines for Minimally Invasive Surgery in Living Liver Donors in China", has been at the forefront of integrating precision medicine with surgical innovation. In recent years, he has made remarkable contributions in the fields of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis and treatment, and the development of multidisciplinary team (MDT) systems.

This interview provides an opportunity to delve into the thoughts and practices of a trailblazer in modern medical science.

Interview Highlights

• Minimally Invasive Techniques: Prof. Liu discussed how minimally invasive surgery significantly improves postoperative recovery for living liver donors and reduces the incidence of complications.
• Precision Medicine: He explored the integration of liver surgical innovations with precision medicine to enable personalized treatment and advance early diagnosis, optimized treatment plans, and prognostic evaluation for HCC.
• Application of Artificial Intelligence: Prof. Liu shared insights on the potential breakthroughs of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, such as the DeepSeek system, in hepatobiliary surgery, highlighting their transformative impact on surgical planning and postoperative management.
• MDT Development Experience: He reflected on the challenges of institutionalizing MDT systems and detailed the key measures and outcomes that have successfully enhanced standardized care across the province.
• Advanced HCC Treatment: Prof. Liu emphasized the role of combination therapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors and anti-angiogenic targeted drugs in treating advanced HCC. He noted that this approach not only significantly extends patient survival but also creates opportunities for some patients to undergo surgical interventions.

Interview Video

Profile

Research Focus and Clinical Expertise:

Prof. Liu specializes in liver and oncological surgery, having performed numerous complex and challenging liver surgeries. He was the first in the world to implement continuous intra-arterial infusion of arsenic trioxide for the treatment of inoperable primary liver cancer, a groundbreaking approach with significant clinical impact. Prof. Liu has extensive clinical experience and advanced surgical skills in abdominal interventional surgery and minimally invasive surgery, excelling in ultrasound-guided liver biopsies and the treatment of liver diseases. He is also highly proficient in the comprehensive management of abdominal tumors, including innovative treatments for peritoneal mucinous tumors, and in diagnosing and treating complex cases in general surgery.

Academic and Professional Appointments:

Prof. Liu holds multiple prestigious roles, including:

• Member of the Surgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, Deputy Leader of the Experimental Surgery Group
• Vice President of the Surgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Deputy Chair of the Hepatic Surgery Committee
• Deputy Chair of several committees under the Chinese Research Hospital Association: General Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery, and Clinical Digital Medicine
• Standing Member of the Digestive Tract Tumor Committee
• Deputy Chair of the Liver Cancer Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association
• Deputy Chair of the Liver Tumor Branch of the Chinese Medical and Health International Exchange Promotion Association
• Standing Member of the Anhui Association for Science and Technology, Vice President of the Anhui Medical Association, and Chair of the Anhui Hospital Performance Management Committee
• Deputy Chair of the General Surgery Committee and Chair of the Hepatobiliary Surgery Committee of the Heilongjiang Medical Association

International Recognition:

• Distinguished Professor under the "Longjiang Scholars" Program
• Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS)
• Member of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA)
• Founding Member of the International Laparoscopic Liver Society (ILLS)
• Member of the International Association of Surgeons, Gastroenterologists and Oncologists (IASGO)
• Honorary Member of the British Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (GIHPBA)

Managing Editor: Irene Liu
Language Editor: Emma Chen
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Journal Editorial Office of Mini-invasive Surgery