Immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a highly prevalent tumor worldwide and when it reaches an advanced stage, few systemic treatments are available to improve the survival of these patients.

However, the greater knowledge about the tumor microenvironment and the role of the immune system in the control of tumor progression has allowed the development of treatments targeting immune checkpoints, which result in encouraging tumor response rates and prolonged survival.

Although most of these treatments are well tolerated, up to 20% of patients may experience side effects derived from non-specific stimulation of the immune system. In the cirrhotic patient, early diagnosis and treatment of such adverse events is particularly challenging.

Therefore, continuous investigation on the use of these new therapies will allow us to better understand the profile of patients who will benefit most from them.

CITA DEL ARTÍCULO  Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2022 Nov;114(11):663-670.  doi: 10.17235/reed.2022.8876/2022