The Role of Immunotherapy in a Tolerogenic Environment: Current and Future Perspectives for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cells

卷:10

Maria D’Antò¹  Raffaele Angelo Nicola Ranucci¹  Annamaria Ambrosino¹  Ermelinda Quarata²  Gaetano Facchini²  Maria Maddalena Laterza²  Liliana Montella²  Massimiliano Berretta³  Morena Fasano⁴  Sergio Facchini⁴  Lucia Altucci⁵  Federica Sarno⁵ 

[1] ASL NA2 NORD, Internal Medicine Operative Unit, “Santa Maria delle Grazie” Hospital, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy;

[2] ASL NA2 NORD, Oncology Operative Unit, “Santa Maria delle Grazie” Hospital, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy;

[3] Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98121 Messina, Italy;

[4] Department of Precision Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, “Luigi Vanvitelli” University of Campania, 80131 Naples, Italy;

[5] Precision Medicine Department, “Luigi Vanvitelli” University of Campania, 80138 Naples, Italy;

关键词: hepatocellular carcinoma;    immunotherapy;    immune checkpoint inhibitor;    pathogenesis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/cells10081909

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

In contrast to several tumors whose prognoses are radically affected by novel immunotherapeutic approaches and/or targeted therapies, the outcomes of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain poor. The underlying cirrhosis that is frequently associated with it complicates medical treatment and often determines survival. The landscape of HCC treatment had included sorafenib as the only drug available for ten years, until 2018, when lenvatinib was approved for treatment. The second-line systemic treatments available for hepatocellular carcinoma include regorafenib, cabozantinib, ramucirumab, and, more recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, the median survival remains below 15 months. The results obtained in clinics should be interpreted whilst considering the peculiar role of the liver as an immune organ. A healthy liver microenvironment ordinarily experiences stimulation by gut-derived antigens. This setup elucidates the response to chronic inflammation and the altered balance between tolerance and immune response in HCC development. This paper provides an overview of the mechanisms involved in HCC pathogenesis, with a special focus on the immune implications, along with current and future clinical perspectives.

【 授权许可】

Unknown