News & Updates

Eribulin in liposarcoma: Clinical benefit and guideline recommendations

Liposarcoma (LPS) is a rare malignant tumour of adipose tissue, characterized by significant heterogeneity and limited systemic treatment options, particularly in advanced stages. At an industry-sponsored symposium, Dr Herbert Loong of the Chinese University of Hong Kong reviewed advances in systemic therapies for LPS, highlighting clinical evidence supporting the use of eribulin in second-line (2L) and later settings. Dr Olivia Chen, on behalf of the Prince of Wales Hospital sarcoma group, presented a local case of LPS treated with eribulin + lenvatinib, which demonstrated durable clinical benefit over 2 years.

Optimizing Hb level with HIF-PHI in a CKD anaemia patient hyporesponsive to ESA

A 63-year-old man with hyperten­sion, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and ischaemic heart disease previous­ly treated with percutaneous coronary intervention presented to our clinic in January 2024. He was under the care of another nephrologist. At presenta­tion, he was taking only antihyperten­sives and aspirin. 

[Infographics] STRIDE vs atezolizumab + bevacizumab in 1L HCC – is there any difference in OS

Focusing on dual immunotherapy in unresectable HCC:

• STRIDE (single tremelimumab regular interval durvalumab) is the first and only IO regimen to date with 6-year OS data in unresectable HCC.¹

• In the HIMALAYA study, STRIDE was compared vs sorafenib and achieved a 1.9 times higher 6-year OS rate.¹

• Real-world data indicate that there are no significant differences between STRIDE and atezolizumab + bevacizumab as 1L therapies for advanced HCC, showing them to be equally valid options for patients with advanced HCC.²

Lowering LDL-C with bempedoic acid in patients with complex clinical profiles: European experience and local cases

LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) is the main driver of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), yet LDL-C control in high-risk patients remains far from optimal. At an industry-sponsored meeting, Professor Vivencio Barrios from Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Spain, discussed the role of bempedoic acid in managing complex patients, while Dr Walter Wai-Chee Chen, Specialist in Cardiology in private practice in Hong Kong, shared local cases of bempedoic acid use in patients with mild-to-moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) and complex clinical profiles.

Achieving repigmentation with ruxolitinib cream in Chinese vitiligo patients

A 37-year-old Chinese man with a 6-year history of vitiligo (onset at age of 25 years) first presented in November 2017 with extensive depigmentation over his nose, mouth, chin, forehead, back of his neck and hands, and the left elbow. 

Increasing confidence in starting aflibercept 8 mg for nAMD — two HK cases

A 53-year-old female presented on 11 March 2024 with a 2-month history of distorted vision and marked visual impairment in her left eye (OS). Her rel­evant treatment history included radial keratotomy. Baseline OS visual acuity (VA) was counting fingers. 

Nerandomilast offers potential benefits beyond reduction in FVC decline for patients with IPF and PPF

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) are aggressive forms of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), characterized by ongoing fibrosis, progressive lung function decline, and early mortality. While current antifibrotics (nintedanib and pirfenidone) slow disease progression, there remains a need for therapies offering stronger disease control and improved survival. At the 2025 Autumn Respiratory Seminar in Hong Kong, Professor Philip Molyneaux of Imperial College London, UK, highlighted recent data on nondominant, a selective phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) inhibitor that slows lung function decline and shows a reduced risk of death, representing a major advance in IPF and PPF. 

Sugammadex in ERAS: Redefining NMB reversal to enhance perioperative care

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) initiative offers an evidence-based, multidisciplinary framework designed to reduce surgical stress, accelerate functional recovery, and optimize hospital resource use. Dr Shu-Lin Guo of the Department of Anesthesiology, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi City, Taiwan, shared his expert opinion with MIMS Doctor on how sugammadex, a novel neuromuscular blockade (NMB) reversal agent, can be integrated into ERAS pathways to improve patient outcomes, reduce complications, and enhance perioperative efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Role of long-acting local anaesthetics in extended postoperative analgesia across defined surgical pathways

The latest 2026 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Practice Guideline provides evidence-based recommendations on perioperative pain management, with a focus on using local and regional anaesthesia (RA) for mastectomy and open as well as minimally invasive surgeries. This article highlights the role of long-acting local anaesthetics, such as bupivacaine and ropivacaine, delivered via fascial plane blocks (FPBs) in extending postoperative analgesia following mastectomy and cardiothoracic and abdominal surgery in adults and children.