Immunoprofiling as biomarkers for responses to immunotherapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

T cells are a subtype of lymphocytes that plays a key role to fight against cancer in the immune system. Hapetocellular carcinoma (HCC), as the fourth most common causes of cancer-related death globally, is always challenging when it comes to disease management. Patients typically diagnosed in its late stage, as well as coming with cirrhosis or hepatitis infection at the same time. Patients at late stage are usually facing limited treatment options before immunotherapy has been approved. Checkpoint inhibitors have attracted attention as promising cancer therapies by targeting tumour-infiltrating T cells to trigger an anti-tumour immune response. Anti-PD1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies offer a potential cure along with less toxicity than conventional chemotherapy. Despite the antitumoral effect of immunotherapy in some types of advanced cancers, treatment effect on the immune system still remains unknown. Further exploration in order to understand the treatment impact for patient receiving immunotherapy is crucial. To investigate immune profiles of patients with advanced HCC after exposure to immunotherapy, our study included stage IV HCC patients seen at the Department of Medical Oncology, Queen Mary Hospitals. Results have shown that immunoprofiling allow the investigation of immune system after treatment with immunotherapy as noninvasive approach from peripheral blood. We have also found a distinct population of T cells that could be served as monitoring biomarker for treatment response in advanced HCC. Coupled with conventional surveillance strategies, immune system surveillance may serve as predictors for HCC patients who will likely benefit from immunotherapy.