Immune responses in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and efficient treatment options are urgently needed. Based on its pathogenesis as well as a number of correlative studies, immunotherapy represents a potential therapeutic option for patients with HCC. However, tumors have also evolved numerous immune escape mechanisms, such as the generation of cells with immune suppressor functions, including regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. It has been shown that these suppressor cells mask tumor-specific immune responses in patients with HCC. We propose that targeting suppressor cells either alone or in combination with conventional immunotherapy should be further evaluated in HCC patients.
Korangy
Firouzeh
F
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Höchst
Bastian
B
Manns
Michael P
MP
Greten
Tim F
TF
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007167:Immunotherapy; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000032:analysis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit