TY - JOUR
T1 - The immune system in hepatocellular carcinoma and potential new immunotherapeutic strategies
AU - Bertino, Gaetano
AU - Demma, Shirin
AU - Ardiri, Annalisa
AU - Proiti, Maria
AU - Mangia, Alessandra
AU - Gruttadauria, Salvatore
AU - Toro, Adriana
AU - Di Carlo, Isidoro
AU - Malaguarnera, Giulia
AU - Bertino, Nicoletta
AU - Malaguarnera, Mariano
AU - Malaguarnera, Michele
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a major health problem worldwide and the third most common cause of cancer-related death. HCC treatment decisions are complex and dependent upon tumor staging. Several molecular targeted agents have been evaluated in clinical trials in advanced HCC. Despite of only modest objective response rates according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, several studies showed encouraging results in terms of prolongation of the time to progression, disease stabilization, and survival. Cellular immunotherapy would improve the immune state and has potential in enhancing the therapeutic outcome for HCC patients. Materials and Methods. A search of the literature was made using cancer literature, the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) database for the following keywords: "hepatocellular carcinoma," "molecular hepatocarcinogenesis," "targeted therapy," "molecular immunological targets," "tumour-associated antigens," "Tregs," "MDSCs," "immunotherapy." Discussion and Conclusion. Treatment strategies combining blockade of immunoregulatory cell types such as Tregs and MDSCs and of inhibitory receptors, with vaccine-induced activation of TAA-specific T cells, may be necessary to achieve the most effective therapeutic antitumour activity in HCC. In the future, new therapeutic options will be represented by a blend of immunotherapy-like vaccines and T-cell modulators, supplemented by molecularly targeted inhibitors of tumor signaling pathways.
AB - Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a major health problem worldwide and the third most common cause of cancer-related death. HCC treatment decisions are complex and dependent upon tumor staging. Several molecular targeted agents have been evaluated in clinical trials in advanced HCC. Despite of only modest objective response rates according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, several studies showed encouraging results in terms of prolongation of the time to progression, disease stabilization, and survival. Cellular immunotherapy would improve the immune state and has potential in enhancing the therapeutic outcome for HCC patients. Materials and Methods. A search of the literature was made using cancer literature, the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) database for the following keywords: "hepatocellular carcinoma," "molecular hepatocarcinogenesis," "targeted therapy," "molecular immunological targets," "tumour-associated antigens," "Tregs," "MDSCs," "immunotherapy." Discussion and Conclusion. Treatment strategies combining blockade of immunoregulatory cell types such as Tregs and MDSCs and of inhibitory receptors, with vaccine-induced activation of TAA-specific T cells, may be necessary to achieve the most effective therapeutic antitumour activity in HCC. In the future, new therapeutic options will be represented by a blend of immunotherapy-like vaccines and T-cell modulators, supplemented by molecularly targeted inhibitors of tumor signaling pathways.
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U2 - 10.1155/2015/731469
DO - 10.1155/2015/731469
M3 - Article
C2 - 25893197
AN - SCOPUS:84928116687
VL - 2015
JO - BioMed Research International
JF - BioMed Research International
SN - 2314-6133
M1 - 731469
ER -