In the afternoon of June 4th, 2013, Dr. Xuanyong Lu, Professor of Institute of Hepatitis and Virus Research, and Chief Science Officer of ImCare Biotech LLC, USA visited Hubei Cancer Hospital (HBCH) by invitation of Dr. Xiaoqin Xia, Director of Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery Department and Senior Investigator Pinfang Yao, Hubei Cancer Institute. Prof. Lu gave a seminar on “Recent Progress of Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer”.  Dean assistant of HBCH, Dr. Xinhong Wu chaired the meeting. In his seminar, Prof. Lu introduced the recent progress on detection liver cancer in its early stages and possible treatment; particularly on their latest researches on a protein named Serine Protease Inhibitor Kazal (SPIK) and its potential use in early diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer. SPIK is a new discovered cell apoptosis inhibitor over-expressed in many cancer cells, especially in liver cancer such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The gene expression of SPIK in normal tissues is limited or inactive; therefore, it can be used as a biomarker for early detection of liver cancer and for prediction of recurrence of liver cancer after surgical resection. Prof. Lu and ImCare Biotech are developing a test kit, which can specifically detect liver cancer secreted SPIK for clinical use.  Prof. Lu and his team also demonstrated that the increase of SPIK causes the tolerance of cancer cells to the surveillance of body's immune system. This finding has been applied to develop a new class of anti-cancer drug.

    Attenders very enjoyed this warm and solemn meeting. Professor Lu highly appraised the remarkable questions asked by Masters and Doctors of HBCH. After the seminar, Prof. Lu visited Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery Department, accompanied by Director Xia Xiaoqin, Director Zhang Xinghua and Dr. Zhang Feng. Both sides agreed to establish a close collaboration in future on liver cancer research. (Reported by Yao Pinfang and Zhang Feng).