A.Z. Isiangulova
Republican Clinical Oncology Dispensary of Ministry of Healthcare of Tatarstan Republic named after professor M.Z. Sigal, Kazan
Isiangulova Alina Z. — PhD. (Medicine), oncologist
Republican Clinical Oncology Dispensary of Ministry of Healthcare of Tatarstan Republic named after professor M.Z. Sigal,
29 Sibirskiy Tract, Kazan, 420029, Tel.: +7 987-222-58-11, e-mail: a.isyangulova@rambler.ru,
ORCHID ID: 0000-0001-8570-9921, PIN code: 2245-6327
Abstract. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common form of liver cancer with a high mortality rate. In about 80% of patients the diagnosis is initially made at an intermediate or late common stage, which excludes radical treatments. In most cases, systemic treatment is not effective, especially when using traditional cytostatics. For more than ten years, sorafenib has been the only systemic drug that has proven its effectiveness in the treatment of advanced HCC. The rapid development of immunotherapy has significantly revolutionized the therapy of advanced HCC. In addition, the combination of immunotherapy with targeted drugs or locoregional treatment (transarterial chemoembolization and selective intra-arterial radiation therapy) is becoming a promising treatment option for these patients. New studies are investigating combination therapies, including checkpoint inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors or anti-VEGF therapy, even combinations of two immunotherapy regimens. The results of these studies are expected to change the picture of HCC treatment at all stages, and three additional treatments, due to their proven effectiveness.
In this paper, the variants of immunotherapy that are currently used or being investigated in the treatment of HCC are analyzed.
Key words: hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cancer, checkpoint inhibitors, sorafenib, immunotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, chemoembolization, a randomized multicenter trial