Role of Immunotherapy in the Management of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Introduction: The most prevalent histologic subtype of primary liver cancer, hepato-cellular carcinoma, is also the third most lethal malignancy worldwide and a significant cause of cancer death. When diagnosed, it is frequently too late for curative therapies. To add to the difficulty, it is resistant to conventional systemic therapies like chemotherapy.

Method: Re-cently, more attention has been given to the use of immunotherapy for this condition. Immuno-therapy has had a major impact on the outcome of several malignancies; several studies have revealed the potential role of immunotherapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. To provide an overview of the current literature, justification, and clinical evidence for the use of immuno-therapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, we employed a systematic literature review (SLR) approach in this work. Additionally, we explored the benefits and rationales of various treatment combinations and described the molecular mechanisms behind resistance to a number of immunotherapy drugs.

Results: A total of 188 articles from credible journals published be-tween 2013 and August 7, 2023, were screened. Eight of those articles were chosen for in-depth study. This systematic review concluded that the current immunotherapeutic approaches have the potential to improve outcomes for aHCC patients; however, several clinical and biological hurdles have to be overcome, and predictive markers are still eagerly needed.

Conclusion: To fully realize the potential of immunotherapy agents and their combination therapies to enhance health outcomes for patients with aHCC, additional investigation and research are required.