An excerpt of BCLC strategy for prognosis prediction and treatment recommendations: The 2026 update

The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer （BCLC） system is a major international framework for hepatocellular carcinoma prognostic assessment and treatment decision-making. While preserving the overall architecture of the 2022 edition， the 2026 update integrates the latest research evidence in locoregional therapy， systemic therapy， and liver transplantation， emphasizes a direct correspondence between staging and evidence-based first-line treatment options， and highlights the refined assessment of liver function， individualized decision-making， and pathway optimization in complex scenarios. This article gives an excerpt of the core concepts， key definitions， and key points regarding first-line treatment options for different stages in the 2026 update， with brief comments on the clinical practice in China.