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Abstract
The gut microbiome may significantly influence the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- Specific anti-tumor cells can be activated and strengthened by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), leading to sustained tumor response rates in many HCC patients.
- Some patients with unresectable HCC do not experience long-term benefits from immunotherapy due to acquired resistance mechanisms.
- There is significant variability in how individuals' gut microbiomes respond to treatment with ICIs.
- Targeting specific gut microbes could enhance the effectiveness of checkpoint blockade therapies in HCC.
- Manipulating the gut microbiome presents a clinical strategy that may improve response rates to cancer ICI therapy.
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