Title:Cancer Immunotherapy - Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Volume: 16
Issue: 2
Author(s): Jing Bai, Ping Liang, Qian Li, Rui Feng*Jiang Liu*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacy, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei Province,China
- Department of Pharmacy, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei Province,China
Keywords:
Hepatocellular carcinoma, immunotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, combination treatment, programmed
cell death-1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T lymphocyte-Associated protein-4 (CTLA-4).
Abstract: Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies, and its incidence
and mortality are increasing worldwide. Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer
treatment in recent years. In particular, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), as new therapeutic
tools, have demonstrated encouraging antitumor activity and manageable tolerability in HCC. Immune
checkpoint blockade with antibodies targeting Programmed cell Death-1 (PD-1), Programmed
cell Death Ligand-1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-
4) enhances tumor immunity by restoring exhausted T cells. Although the efficacy of combinational
treatment strategies using ICIs combined with other ICIs, molecularly targeted agents, systemic
therapy, or locoregional therapy has been well documented in numerous preclinical and clinical
studies in several types of cancer, most HCC patients do not benefit from ICI treatment. This review
highlights recent developments and potential opportunities related to ICIs and their combination
in the management of HCC. The present article also reviews recent patents related to ICIs.
