Recent progress in molecular and immune classification and combined immune target and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Liver cancer has a high degree of heterogeneity. The molecular characteristics of tumor in different patients, and even in the same liver cancer tissues can be significantly different. Current clinical and pathological classifications cannot accurately evaluate the heterogeneity of liver cancer. With recent developments in genomics, proteomics and metabonomics of liver cancer, molecular classification of liver cancer has made some progress. Intensive research on the immune microenvironment of liver cancer has promoted the recognition of immunological classification of liver cancer. However, none of these classifications can be translated into treatment strategies to guide clinical practice. Immunotherapy combined with antiangiogenic targeted drugs have achieved a great breakthrough in treating patients with advanced liver cancer. It is becoming established as the first-line treatment for patients with advanced, or even intermediate stage of liver cancer. In this review, recent research progress on` molecular and immunophenotyping and immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with antiangiogenesis inbibitors in advanced liver cancer are elaborated.