Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Status and Novel Perspectives
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a promising treatment for many kinds of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The rationale for using ICIs in HCC is based on the immunogenic background of hepatitis and cirrhosis and on the observation of high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/10/3025 |
| _version_ | 1797550632633106432 |
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| author | Piera Federico Angelica Petrillo Pasqualina Giordano Davide Bosso Antonietta Fabbrocini Margaret Ottaviano Mario Rosanova Antonia Silvestri Andrea Tufo Antonio Cozzolino Bruno Daniele |
| author_facet | Piera Federico Angelica Petrillo Pasqualina Giordano Davide Bosso Antonietta Fabbrocini Margaret Ottaviano Mario Rosanova Antonia Silvestri Andrea Tufo Antonio Cozzolino Bruno Daniele |
| author_sort | Piera Federico |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a promising treatment for many kinds of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The rationale for using ICIs in HCC is based on the immunogenic background of hepatitis and cirrhosis and on the observation of high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in this cancer. Promising data from phase I/II studies in advanced HCC, showing durable objective response rates (~20% in first- and second-line settings) and good safety profile, have led to phase III studies with ICIs as single agents or in combination therapy, both in first and second line setting. While the activity of immunotherapy agents as single agents seems to be limited to an “ill-defined” small subset of patients, the combination of the anti PD-L1 atezolizumab and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor bevacizumab revealed a benefit in the outcomes when compared to sorafenib in the first line. In addition, the activity and efficacy of the combinations between anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 antibody and other ICIs, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, or surgical and locoregional therapies, has also been investigated in clinical trials. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of ICIs in the management of HCC with a critical evaluation of the current status and future directions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:33:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-faeb90a6137742c8958567f3b11e7b62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:33:03Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-faeb90a6137742c8958567f3b11e7b622023-11-20T17:33:02ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942020-10-011210302510.3390/cancers12103025Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Status and Novel PerspectivesPiera Federico0Angelica Petrillo1Pasqualina Giordano2Davide Bosso3Antonietta Fabbrocini4Margaret Ottaviano5Mario Rosanova6Antonia Silvestri7Andrea Tufo8Antonio Cozzolino9Bruno Daniele10Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, ItalySurgical Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, ItalyGastroenterology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, ItalyImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a promising treatment for many kinds of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The rationale for using ICIs in HCC is based on the immunogenic background of hepatitis and cirrhosis and on the observation of high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in this cancer. Promising data from phase I/II studies in advanced HCC, showing durable objective response rates (~20% in first- and second-line settings) and good safety profile, have led to phase III studies with ICIs as single agents or in combination therapy, both in first and second line setting. While the activity of immunotherapy agents as single agents seems to be limited to an “ill-defined” small subset of patients, the combination of the anti PD-L1 atezolizumab and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor bevacizumab revealed a benefit in the outcomes when compared to sorafenib in the first line. In addition, the activity and efficacy of the combinations between anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 antibody and other ICIs, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, or surgical and locoregional therapies, has also been investigated in clinical trials. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of ICIs in the management of HCC with a critical evaluation of the current status and future directions.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/10/3025hepatocellular carcinomaimmunotherapycombination therapypredictive markers |
| spellingShingle | Piera Federico Angelica Petrillo Pasqualina Giordano Davide Bosso Antonietta Fabbrocini Margaret Ottaviano Mario Rosanova Antonia Silvestri Andrea Tufo Antonio Cozzolino Bruno Daniele Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Status and Novel Perspectives Cancers hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy combination therapy predictive markers |
| title | Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Status and Novel Perspectives |
| title_full | Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Status and Novel Perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Status and Novel Perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Status and Novel Perspectives |
| title_short | Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Status and Novel Perspectives |
| title_sort | immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma current status and novel perspectives |
| topic | hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy combination therapy predictive markers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/10/3025 |
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