Welcome Message
President, ACTA2026 and JAST-HCC International Symposium2026
Masatoshi Kudo, MD, PhD
Professor and Chairman,
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Kindai University Faculty of Medicine
On behalf of the Asian Conference on Tumor Ablation (ACTA), it is my great honor to announce the upcoming 12th ACTA 2026, which will be held in Kyoto, Japan, from November 26 to 28, 2026. Since the 1st ACTA was hosted in Japan by Professor Shuichiro Shiina, this will mark the 4th time ACTA takes place in Japan.
In conjunction with ACTA2026, we are pleased to also host the International Symposium of the Japan Association of Systemic Therapy for HCC (JAST-HCC). Therefore, the theme of this year’s congress is “From LRT to Systemic Therapy.”
Over the three days of ACTA2026, we will focus on tumor ablation in a wide range of fields including hepatobiliary-pancreatic, urological, thoracic, gynecologic, musculoskeletal, thyroid, and head & neck. The program will feature educational lectures, free paper presentations, and the latest evidence on combined therapies such as molecular targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and TACE with tumor ablation. Cutting-edge topics including Y-90 SIRT for tumor ablation, novel image guidance and navigation, the application of artificial intelligence, multidisciplinary team (MDT) approaches, and debates comparing different therapeutic modalities will also be highlighted.
At JAST-HCC 2026, sessions will cover the hottest topics inHCC treatment, including combination immunotherapy, first- and second-line treatment strategies, combinations of immunotherapy and locoregional therapy, conversion therapy after systemic treatment, and biomarker exploration for predicting treatment response of immunotherapy. We also plan “APPLE-JAST HCC Joint Sessions”, culminating in an “APPLE Consensus Meeting” on the most debated clinical questions in current systemic therapy for HCC, with the outcomes to be published as a consensus statement.
Together, these meetings will bring experts from across Asian countries in ablation, TACE, Y-90 SIRT, and systemic therapies such as combination immunotherapy. It will be a unique opportunity to share experiences, exchange the latest evidence, and foster collaboration to further advance this rapidly developing field.
We sincerely look forward to welcoming you to Kyoto in November 2026, a city renowned for its breathtaking autumn foliage.
Sincerely,