Advances in molecular mechanisms and immunotherapeutic strategies for CD8+T cell exhaustion in HCC
CHEN Ao
CHEN Chao
HAN Ning
LUO Tianwei
OUYANG Ting
CHU Xiaoyuan
Abstract：Primary liver cancer is the fourth most common malignant tumor in China,with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)accounting for 75%to 85%of all cases.Although immunotherapy represented by immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)has become the first-line treatment option for advanced HCC,only a limited patient group has benefited from it.In recent years,with the in-depth study of the immune microenvironment of various tumors,including hepatocellular carcinoma,T cell exhaustion,especially CD8+T cell exhaustion,has been found to be one of the key factors leading to the significant decline in the anti-tumor function of ICIs.Therefore,an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms of CD8+T cell exhaustion is of great significance for improving the efficacy of immunotherapy in HCC patients.In this paper,we systematically reviewed the newly reported mechanisms of CD8+T cell exhaustion in HCC and discussed the potential application value of biomarkers associated with exhausted CD8+T cells in predicting patient survival and treatment response.Meanwhile,the current immunotherapeutic strategies for CD8+T cell exhaustion and the prospects for clinical application are summarized,aiming to provide new ideas and directions for precision immunotherapy in HCC patients.
Keywords：Hepatocellular carcinomaCD8+T cell exhaustionImmune checkpoint inhibitorsImmune microenvironmentBiomarkes
Publication Date：2025-03-28
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 294-301 )