Efficacy and safety of programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors in treatment of hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma / 临床肝胆病杂志

ABSTRACT

Combined immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), especially programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors, has achieved a remarkable clinical effect in clinical research and practice. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is considered a major risk factor in the process of HCC. Studies are being conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 ICIs used alone or in combination in the treatment of patients with HBV-associated HCC, and some studies have shown that the patients with HBV-associated HCC receiving PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have achieved a similar treatment outcome to those without HBV infection; however, no consensus has been reached on the safety issues related to HBV activation. This article reviews the clinical trials of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy for HCC, so as to clarify the safety and efficacy of this new treatment regimen in the particular circumstances of HBV infection.