title: Dendritic cells and hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a major health burden in the modern world. Because current treatment options for HCC are capable of providing good survival rates to only a limited number of patients, new therapeutic opportunities should be looked upon. The particularities of dendritic cells (DC) populations existing in the liver, and their consecutive selective activation of certain immunotolerant T-cell subgroups, account for the high success rate of allogeneic hepatic transplantation, currently the most efficient treatment for HCC. The particularities of dendritic cells (DCs) populations existing in the liver, and their consecutive selective activation of certain immunotolerant T-cell subgroups, account for the high success rate of allogeneic hepatic transplantation for HCC. These molecular mechanisms also open new paths towards cancer preventing and cancer curative vaccines, as well as successful immunotherapy. Our aim was to summarize the main aspects of the biology of DCs populations, especially those present in the liver, and to draw attention to their current and future roles in the curative treatment of hepatocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Semiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania; paulmitrut@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Letiţia Adela Maria
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Streba
authors.forename: Costin Teodor
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Streba
authors.forename: Larisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Săndulescu
authors.forename: Cristin Constantin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Vere
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitruţ
authors.forename: Bogdan Virgil
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Cotoi
authors.forename: Laura Nicoleta
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Daniela Adriana
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ion
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology