Topic: Application of Artificial Intelligence in the Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming medical care, and the diagnosis and management of liver cancer are no exception. This transformation is particularly significant given the multiple challenges involved in medical image interpretation, evaluation of survival and recurrence, identification of risk factors, and selection of the best treatment for individual patients in the era of precision medicine. AI-based models are increasingly able to identify smaller hepatic carcinomas with higher sensitivity than human readers, while also providing valuable support for surgical planning. This capability is especially important given the multitude of treatments available, including radiofrequency or microwave ablation, chemo- or radioembolization, hepatic resection, and liver transplantation.

In locoregional therapies, radiomics combined with AI can generate quantitative imaging biomarkers that help predict treatment response and recurrence. In surgical management, machine learning algorithms can assist in organ allocation for liver transplantation, prioritization of transplant candidates, selection among treatment strategies, and prediction of postoperative complications. In pathology, deep learning models contribute to the interpretation of biopsy slides and the identification of molecular signatures. In the context of precision medicine, genomics plays a central role, and machine learning methods are increasingly applied to the analysis of circulating tumor DNA and mutation profiles, supporting prognostication and systemic therapy decision making.  

The potential benefits of AI in the diagnosis and treatment of various types of liver cancer are substantial. Equally important, however, is recognizing the limitations and challenges associated with AI applications. These include issues related to data collection and handling, data quality, external validation, generalizability across diverse populations, and legal and ethical considerations. Addressing these challenges is essential to fully realize the promise of AI in liver cancer care. This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for advancing research that both expands the applications of AI and critically evaluates its limitations in this field.