Professor Young-nyeon Park leads WHO liver cancer diagnostic revision

Professor Young-nyeon Park of the Yonsei University College of Medicine has played a leading role in revising the liver cancer section of the World Health Organization (WHO) Digestive System Tumours 6th edition. Often referred to as the ‘WHO Blue Book’, this publication serves as the international standard for defining and classifying cancers.

In this latest edition, the classification has been updated to incorporate molecular pathological characteristics, including genetic mutations and protein expression, alongside tumor morphology. By integrating factors such as tumor microenvironments, immune cell characteristics, and vascular features, the new standards allow for a more precise differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma subtypes based on their aggressiveness and prognosis. This advancement is expected to assist medical professionals worldwide in establishing more accurate, patient-specific treatment strategies.

Professor Park is scheduled to deliver a plenary lecture at the 36th International Academy of Pathology (IAP) Congress, where he will present research regarding the molecular pathological characteristics and tumor microenvironments of liver cancer.