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Page 10 of 12 Mathias-Machado et al. Hepatoma Res 2021;7:67 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2021.84

CONCLUSION
This article presents promising data regarding the future of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapeutic
approaches, with a potential benefit for a large number of patients with HCC who present a significant risk
of recurrence and death after curative-intended treatment. The impact of an effective (neo)adjuvant
treatment is more relevant in the natural history of HCC than the treatment of disease at later stages, as it
has the potential to increase cure rates rather than prolong survival in patients with incurable disease.

Immunotherapy-based therapeutic choices are emerging as a topic of interest. It is important to highlight
that clinical and molecular risk factors of recurrence are needed to selectively stratify candidates for
(neo)adjuvant treatment. Furthermore, surrogates of response to systemic treatments in patients with HCC
are warranted in order to better identify target patient populations who may benefit from these approaches.
Ongoing trials have the potential to further change the current understanding and practice of resectable
tumors in patients with HCC in the near future.

DECLARATIONS
Authors’ contributions
Substantial contributions to conception and design of the study and performed data analysis, writing and
interpretation: Mathias-Machado MC
Substantial contributions to conception and design of the study and performed data analysis, writing and
interpretation: Fonseca L

Availability of data and materials
Not applicable.

Financial support and sponsorship
None.

Conflicts of interest
Both authors declared that there are no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.

Consent for publication
Not applicable.

Copyright
© The Author(s) 2021.

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