Role of lymphocytes in liver cancer.

摘要

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) typically occurs in patients with chronicinflammatory liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis or (non-)alcoholicsteatohepatitis. Inflammation appears indeed as a crucial factor inhepatocarcinogenesis. Nevertheless, sophisticated animal models and studies ofhuman samples revealed that the HCC also elicits antitumor immune responses.Patrolling and infiltrating lymphocytes (e.g., NKT and T cells, respectively) canexert decisive functions in the transition from chronic hepatic inflammation tocancer as well as in antitumor immune responses. An improved understanding of thecellular and molecular mechanisms whereby inflammation promotes or restrictshepatocarcinogenesis will open new avenues for therapeutic approaches to livercancer.