Immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: molecular pathogenesis and clinical research progress

Abstract

The treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is advancing rapidly in the 21st century. Although there are various treatment methods, the most promising breakthrough seems to be in immunotherapy. Recent guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the European Association for the Study of the Liver have recommended immunotherapies with strong antitumor effects for HCC treatment. Emerging systemic therapeutic strategies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with targeted therapy or local treatment, are among the most promising for improving overall and tumor-free survival times in patients with HCC. This review analyzes the molecular mechanisms of existing immune checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines, and chimeric antigen receptor–T cells; summarizes the latest progress in relevant clinical research; and outlines future trends and opportunities for HCC immunotherapy.

Advancements in Immunotherapeutic Treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Potential of Combination Therapies

“…Accumulating evidence suggests that immunotherapy has the potential as a novel therapeutic strategy to cure HCC by providing a specific immunosuppressive environment to increase the survival rates of advanced-stage HCC patients [18]. HCC tumors are accompanied by dense stromal tissues called tumor microenvironments (TMEs), containing cancerrelated fibroblasts, tumor cells, stromal cells, immune cells, and endothelial cells, which are all associated with HCC progression [19].…”