Advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors for hepatocellular carcinoma

Ji Won Han; Su-Hyung Park

doi:10.17998/jlc.2021.09.24

Advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors for hepatocellular carcinoma

J Liver Cancer. 2021 Sep;21(2):139-145. doi: 10.17998/jlc.2021.09.24. Epub 2021 Sep 30.

Authors

Ji Won Han^{1

2}, Su-Hyung Park³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
² The Catholic University Liver Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
³ Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Although recent advances in immune checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy have initiated a new era for advanced HCC treatment, the majority of HCC patients receiving immune checkpoint blockades do not derive clinical benefit. Thus, there remains an urgent need for novel immunotherapeutic strategies with improved therapeutic efficacy. Here we review recent studies of immune checkpoint blockade in HCC, providing the necessary basis for the rational design of immunotherapy.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Immunotherapy; PD-1-PD-L1 blockade.

Publication types

Review