HPB & Spleen · 3 November 2026

Liver cancer drugs around surgery remain unproven

Drugs given around liver cancer surgery have mostly failed, but one recent trial showed a real benefit.

Three trials of drugs after surgery or ablation showed no lasting benefit.
CARES-009 was the first randomized trial to show longer event-free survival with drugs given before and after surgery.

This is a review of past trials, not a new study. No drug is yet established after surgery, so practice has not changed.

Early studies of immune drugs before surgery showed feasibility and meaningful tumor responses.

Review by Nahi SL and Yopp AC in Ann Surg Oncol

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