Hepatocellular carcinoma immune microenvironment

Abstract

The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) plays crucial roles in the growth, progression, and therapeutic response of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) which is a prototypical inflammation-associated cancer. The efficacy of immunotherapy largely depends on the TIME. Targeting the immune microenvironment is an attractive strategy for the treatment of HCC. This review provides the characteristics of immune microenvironment of HCC,therapeutic approaches based on immune microenvironment,and information on the immune microenvironment underlying the response or resistance of HCC to immunotherapies.