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Theranostics 2021; 11(7):3489-3501. doi:10.7150/thno.54648 This issue Cite

Review

Immunotherapy for targeting cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma

Xiaomeng Dai#, Yixuan Guo#, Yan Hu, Xuanwen Bao, Xudong Zhu, Qihan Fu, Hangyu Zhang, Zhou Tong, Lulu Liu, Yi Zheng, Peng Zhao✉, Weijia Fang✉

Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
#These authors contributed equally to this work.

✉ Corresponding authors: Weijia Fang, E-mail: weijiafangedu.cn; and Peng Zhao, E-mail: zhaopedu.cn. Tel: +86-(0571) 87235147, +86-(0571) 87235149.

Citation:
Dai X, Guo Y, Hu Y, Bao X, Zhu X, Fu Q, Zhang H, Tong Z, Liu L, Zheng Y, Zhao P, Fang W. Immunotherapy for targeting cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma. Theranostics 2021; 11(7):3489-3501. doi:10.7150/thno.54648. https://www.thno.org/v11p3489.htm
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Abstract

Graphic abstract

The rapid development and remarkable success of checkpoint inhibitors have provided significant breakthroughs in cancer treatment, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, only 15-20% of HCC patients can benefit from checkpoint inhibitors. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for recurrence, metastasis, and local and systemic therapy resistance in HCC. Accumulating evidence has suggested that HCC CSCs can create an immunosuppressive microenvironment through certain intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms, resulting in immune evasion. Intrinsic evasion mechanisms mainly include activation of immune-related CSC signaling pathways, low-level expression of antigen presenting molecules, and high-level expression of immunosuppressive molecules. External evasion mechanisms are mainly related to HBV/HCV infection, alcoholic/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, hypoxia stimulation, abnormal angiogenesis, and crosstalk between CSCs and immune cells. A better understanding of the complex mechanisms of CSCs involved in immune evasion will contribute to therapies for HCC. Here we will outline the detailed mechanisms of immune evasion for CSCs, and provide an overview of the current immunotherapies targeting CSCs in HCC.

Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, cancer stem cells, immune evasion, targeting, immunotherapy

Citation styles

APA
Dai, X., Guo, Y., Hu, Y., Bao, X., Zhu, X., Fu, Q., Zhang, H., Tong, Z., Liu, L., Zheng, Y., Zhao, P., Fang, W. (2021). Immunotherapy for targeting cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma. Theranostics, 11(7), 3489-3501. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.54648.

ACS
Dai, X.; Guo, Y.; Hu, Y.; Bao, X.; Zhu, X.; Fu, Q.; Zhang, H.; Tong, Z.; Liu, L.; Zheng, Y.; Zhao, P.; Fang, W. Immunotherapy for targeting cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma. Theranostics 2021, 11 (7), 3489-3501. DOI: 10.7150/thno.54648.

NLM
Dai X, Guo Y, Hu Y, Bao X, Zhu X, Fu Q, Zhang H, Tong Z, Liu L, Zheng Y, Zhao P, Fang W. Immunotherapy for targeting cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma. Theranostics 2021; 11(7):3489-3501. doi:10.7150/thno.54648. https://www.thno.org/v11p3489.htm

CSE
Dai X, Guo Y, Hu Y, Bao X, Zhu X, Fu Q, Zhang H, Tong Z, Liu L, Zheng Y, Zhao P, Fang W. 2021. Immunotherapy for targeting cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma. Theranostics. 11(7):3489-3501.

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