Immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide and efficient treatment options are urgently needed. Based on its pathogenesis, in addition to a number of correlative studies, immunotherapy represents a potential therapeutic option for patients with HCC. However, tumors have also evolved numerous immune escape mechanisms, including the generation of cells with immune suppressor functions, such as Tregs and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. It has been shown that these suppressor cells mask tumor-specific immune responses in patients with HCC. Different immunotherapeutic approaches including peptide- and dendritic cell-based therapies have demonstrated promising results in patients with HCC. However, we propose that any of these immunotherapeutic approaches needs to be combined with a therapy specifically targeting suppressor cells in HCC.
Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Firouzeh
F
Korangy
Bastian
B
Höchst
Michael P
MP
Manns
Tim F
TF
Greten
D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D019139:Tumor Escape / Q000276:immunology*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase