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Zhang et al. Hepatoma Res 2020;6:40 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2020.20

Review Open Access

The advances in immunotherapy for hepatocellular
carcinoma

Fan Zhang , Yumin Li 1,2
1,2
1 Department of Oncology Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China.
2 Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu,
China.

Correspondence to: Dr. Yumin Li, Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University Second
Hospital, 82 Cuiyingmen, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu, China. E-mail: liym@lzu.edu.cn
How to cite this article: Zhang F, Li Y. The advances in immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatoma Res 2020;6:40.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2020.20

Received: 1 Mar 2020 First Decision: 26 Apr 2020 Revised: 25 May 2020 Accepted: 8 Jun 2020 Published: 10 Jul 2020

Academic Editor: Ying-Hong Shi Copy Editor: Cai-Hong Wang Production Editor: Tian Zhang

Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the malignant tumors with higher incidence and mortality worldwide.
Recently, significant progress has been made in uncovering immunotherapy in HCC, for instance programmed
death-1, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, T cell receptor T cell therapy,
dendritic cell vaccine, and cytokine-induced killer cells. This paper reviews the advances in immunotherapy and
focuses on the results of many of preclinical studies and clinical trials in the field, as well as some of the promising
therapeutic strategies for HCC in the future.

Keywords: HCC, PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, CAR-T, T cell receptor, DC, CIK

INTRODUCTION
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was predicted to have the sixth highest incidence and the second highest
[1]
mortality of malignant tumors worldwide in 2018 . The risk factors for HCC are closely related with lifestyle,
[2-4]
chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis .
The management of HCC involves a multidisciplinary team approach, considering not only the tumor stage
and patient complications but also the seriousness of damaged liver function, as most HCC treatments can
[5]
aggravate the severity of disease . Although surgical resection remains the cornerstone of HCC therapy,
limitations are caused by high recurrence rates after surgery because HCC is often diagnosed at advanced
[6]
stage . Liver transplantation (LT) is the optimal treatment means for early-stage HCC, but limitations of
LT are caused by organ shortage, tumor recurrences, and low-ratio eligibility. Comprehensive therapies for
advanced HCC patients, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, interventional therapy, and targeted therapy,
have been developed, but the 5-year survival rate remains low .
[7]
© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
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