Minimally Invasive Therapies and Molecular Mechanisms Related to Recurrence in Hepatobiliary and Gastric Cancers

Hepatobiliary and gastric cancers are important causes of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. Patients with advanced hepatobiliary and gastric cancers have benefited from multi-modality treatment regimens. The utilization of minimally invasive techniques for hepatobiliary and gastric cancers has been rapidly increasing and is proving to be both technically and oncologically safe. Minimally invasive therapies, which include laparoscopic and robotic-assisted techniques, are highly associated with shorter recovery, less postoperative pain, reduced surgical site infections, earlier return of bowel function, and improved quality of life. Thus, there exists encouraging interest in applying these techniques to the treatment of hepatobiliary and gastric cancers. Recent evidence suggests that the short- and long-term outcomes of minimally invasive therapies for hepatobiliary and gastric cancers are comparable to those of conventional open surgery. However, further evidence is required to confirm the suitability of minimally invasive for these cancers, as well as the appropriate indications for its use. In addition, there remain possibilities of recurrence and metastasis after treatment, and the underlying molecular mechanisms need to be explored as well.

This Research Topic aims to provide a platform to discuss the clinical efficacy and safety of minimally invasive therapies in hepatobiliary and gastric cancers, as well as the potential combination strategies with other emerging therapies, and try to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms of recurrence after treatment. Submissions covering but not limited to the following are welcome:

1) Clinical efficacy and safety of different minimally invasive therapies in hepatobiliary and gastric cancers, such as ablation, laparoscopic, robotic-assisted approach, etc.
2) Exploration of molecular mechanisms of recurrence after minimally invasive therapies.
3) Strategies for preventing the recurrence of hepatobiliary and gastric cancers after minimally invasive treatment.
4) Combination strategies of minimally invasive techniques with other emerging therapies such as immunotherapy, targeted drugs, etc.

Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.