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Published on: September 12, 2019
Insights into an Immunotherapeutic Approach to Combat Multidrug Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Aswathy R Devan1, Ayana R Kumar1, Bhagyalakshmi Nair1
1Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Kochi 682041, Kerala, India.
Abstract:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has emerged as one of the most lethal cancers worldwide because of its high refractoriness and multi-drug resistance to existing chemotherapies, which leads to poor patient survival. Novel pharmacological strategies to tackle HCC are based on oral multi-kinase inhibitors like sorafenib; however, the clinical use of the drug is restricted due to the limited survival rate and significant side effects, suggesting the existence of a primary or/and acquired drug-resistance mechanism. Because of this hurdle, HCC patients are forced through incomplete therapy. Although multiple approaches have been employed in parallel to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR), the results are varying with insignificant outcomes. In the past decade, cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a breakthrough approach and has played a critical role in HCC treatment. The liver is the main immune organ of the lymphatic system. Researchers utilize immunotherapy because immune evasion is considered a major reason for rapid HCC progression. Moreover, the immune response can be augmented and sustained, thus preventing cancer relapse over the post-treatment period. In this review, we provide detailed insights into the immunotherapeutic approaches to combat MDR by focusing on HCC, together with challenges in clinical translation.
Insights
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exhibits multi-drug resistance (MDR), limiting treatment efficacy. Immunotherapy offers a promising strategy to overcome MDR in HCC by enhancing the immune response and preventing relapse.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal cancer with high refractoriness and multi-drug resistance (MDR), leading to poor patient survival.
- Current therapies, including multi-kinase inhibitors like sorafenib, face limitations due to drug resistance and significant side effects.
- Overcoming MDR is crucial for improving therapeutic outcomes in HCC patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of cancer immunotherapy in combating multi-drug resistance (MDR) in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- To explore how immune evasion contributes to HCC progression and how immunotherapy can address this.
- To discuss the challenges associated with the clinical translation of immunotherapeutic approaches for HCC.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on immunotherapeutic strategies for Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- Analysis of the mechanisms of multi-drug resistance (MDR) in HCC.
- Examination of the liver's immune functions and the impact of immunotherapy on immune evasion.
Main Results:
- Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a breakthrough approach for HCC treatment.
- Immunotherapy can augment and sustain immune responses, potentially preventing cancer relapse.
- Immune evasion is a major driver of rapid HCC progression, making immunotherapy a relevant strategy.
Conclusions:
- Immunotherapy holds significant promise for overcoming multi-drug resistance (MDR) in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- Addressing immune evasion is key to effective HCC treatment and relapse prevention.
- Further research is needed to overcome challenges in the clinical translation of HCC immunotherapy.
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