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In 2018, advances were made in immunotherapy for colorectal cancers with microsatellite instability but, by contrast, immunotherapy studies in microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer had disappointing results. However, novel insights into the tumour microenvironment barriers that might limit therapeutic efficacy were identified, thereby offering new strategies.
In 2018, there have been substantial advances in our understanding of the risk factors for advanced liver disease in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, including genetic variants and the gut microbiota. Promising results have also arisen from drugs targeting metabolic pathways involved in the progression of liver damage.
In 2018, key studies shaped the way we think about environmental factors and their influence on the gut microbiota. These data highlight a new-found appreciation for the role of diet in modifying the gut microbiome and fortifying the intestinal barrier, which ultimately might lead to better treatments for chronic metabolic diseases.
Deciphering the complex circuitry of liver homeostasis and repair is required to improve regenerative therapies for hepatic diseases. Studies in 2018 have identified subsets of hepatic cells that have unique reparative abilities and clarified the role of biomechanical forces and hepatobiliary reprogramming as sustainable modes of tissue repair.
Important studies published in 2018 highlight novel therapeutic strategies along the disease course of IBD, including potential specific dietary modifications at early stages and treatment with adipose-derived stem cells in perianal Crohn’s disease. A treat-to-target approach that involves proactive serial monitoring of inflammatory biomarkers can assist in timely treatment escalation and promises improved patient outcomes.
High stromal cellularity in pancreatic cancer is an important factor for ineffective treatment and molecular studies. In 2017, major advancements were made in transcriptional characterization, treatment delivery and clinical regimes, raising hope for a breakthrough against this deadly disease.
In 2017, there have been substantial advances in our understanding of the immunological and endocrine mechanisms of disease progression in NAFLD, paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies.
In 2017, the FDA approved regorafenib and nivolumab for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following prior sorafenib treatment, opening the door for an effective systemic second-line therapy in advanced disease. By contrast, the addition of sorafenib to transarterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads did not improve progression-free survival in the intermediate disease stage.
2017 has witnessed major advances in gut stem cell and cancer stem cell research, delivering key insights into their regulation, more defined culture methods and novel stem cell markers that collectively drive us ever closer to breakthroughs for regenerative medicine and cancer treatment in the clinic.
