Research advances in immunotherapy combined with DNA damage response inhibitors for liver cancer therapy

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy utilizes checkpoint inhibitors to amplify the antitumor immune response. The DNA damage repair system plays a crucial role in preserving genome stability, offering therapeutic avenues for tumor treatment by impeding the DNA damage repair pathway. In cancer immunotherapy, checkpoint inhibitors are used to enhance the antitumor immune response. The DNA damage response (DDR) and immune response are inseparably intertwined and have the potential for synergy. Various recent studies have demonstrated that DDR inhibitors (DDRis) can substantially enhance the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by enhancing the immune response of cancer cells. This article primarily describes the immunotherapy of HCC and compiles the research findings and advancements in clinical applications of combined immunotherapy with DDRis. This study provides insight into the application of the DDR pathway in immunotherapy and provides invaluable insights for the clinical advancement of precise and efficacious treatment strategies.