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Qin et al. Hepatoma Res 2020;6:24 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2020.04

Review Open Access

Recent advances regarding tumor microenvironment
and immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma

Wei Qin, Zhen-Yu Cao, Si-Yuan Liu, Xun-Di Xu

Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Disease Research, Division of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery,
Department of Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China.
Correspondence to: Dr. Xun-Di Xu, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Disease Research, Division of Hepatobiliary
& Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan,
China. E-mail: xuxundi@csu.edu.cn.

How to cite this article: Qin W, Cao ZY, Liu SY, Xu XD. Recent advances regarding tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy
in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatoma Res 2020;6:24. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2020.04
Received: 20 Jan 2020 First Decision: 11 Mar 2020 Revised: 25 Mar 2020 Accepted: 10 Apr 2020 Published: 11 May 2020

Science Editors: Jia Fan, Ying-Hong Shi Copy Editor: Jing-Wen Zhang Production Editor: Tian Zhang

Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the liver, with poor prognosis
and high mortality. Traditional treatments for patients with HCC have shown poor efficacy especially for advanced
liver cancer. Compared with other organs, the liver has more natural immune cells such as Kupffer cells, natural
killer cells and natural killer T cells. Immunotherapy for liver cancer has become the focus in current research. The
theoretical basis of immunotherapy rests on immune tolerance and suppression in the tumor microenvironment.
Common immunotherapy methods include vaccines, cytokines, adoptive cell therapies, immune checkpoint
inhibitors, and oncolytic viruses. Compared with traditional treatment, immunotherapy can enhance the body’s
immune function, delay tumor progression, and prolong survival. This article reviews the HCC microenvironment
and immunotherapy both in the clinical and basic research aspects.

Keywords: Immunotherapy, hepatocellular carcinoma, microenvironment, immune

INTRODUCTION
Epidemiological data indicate that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks fifth among malignancies, but it
is the third most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. One of the major causes of HCC is
persistent infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). Aflatoxin exposure is also a
crucial risk factor. In addition, excessive drinking, smoking, obesity, genetic factors and dietary habits are
[1]
also important factors that promote the occurrence of HCC .

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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