J Dig Cancer Res.  2024 Aug;12(2):115-130. 10.52927/jdcr.2024.12.2.115.

Recent Advances in Immune-based Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Park KW
• Park TH
• Jang EJ
• Sung PS

• KMID: 2559189
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.52927/jdcr.2024.12.2.115

Abstract

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is continuously increasing worldwide, with approximately 1 million new cases expected annually by 2025. Data from the Korean Central Cancer Registry in 2023 revealed that the survival rate of patients with HCC was only 40%, unlike patients with other major cancers with a 5-year survival rate of up to 80%, highlighting the need for improved outcomes. The prognosis of HCC significantly changed following research on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Several studies have demonstrated that the overall survival of patients treated with first-line combination therapies, such as atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1) and bevacizumab (anti-VEGF) or durvalumab (anti-PD-L1) and tremelimumab (anti-CTLA-4), was higher than that of patients treated with sorafenib. Research to identify biomarkers that can predict ICI responses is ongoing, enabling the selection of suitable patients before drug initiation. Moreover, studies of the tumor microenvironment in HCC enhance our understanding of immune responses, helping us identify new therapeutic strategies. Additionally, clinical trials are being conducted for emerging immunotherapies beyond ICIs, such as adoptive cell therapy. Based on these ongoing scientific researches and the development of various therapeutic modalities, multiple options are being established for patients with HCC who do not respond well to first-line treatments. Consequently, treatment options and survival rates of patients with advanced HCC could be significantly enhanced in the future.

Keyword

Carcinoma, hepatocellular; Checkpoint inhibitors; Adoptive cell therapy