IMMUNOTHERAPY IN ADVANCED HEPATOCELLULAR CANCER

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the commonest primary cancer of the liver, with a poor prognosis in advanced setting. Current treatment for advanced HCC includes mainly sorafenib and more recently approved regorafenib and nivolumab, as chemotherapy has shown little benefit. However, the modest benefit and the low response rate from systemic treatments suggest an increased need for new strategies. Recent scientific advances indicate a potential benefit from immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma, due to its immunogenicity. Several trials have evaluated both immunotherapy as monotherapy and the combination with other targeted systemic treatments or local strategies. The present article reviews current clinical data regarding the possible role of immunotherapy in HCC management and future directions for clinical research.