Hepatobiliary Tumors: Immunopathology and Immunotherapy

Liver neoplasms are a kind of digestive cancers, by which hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the main pathological types of liver cancer that are associated with chronic viral hepatitis and cirrhosis. Conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not efficient enough to eliminate residual cancer cells. In recent years, tumor immunotherapy has emerged as a perfect method, in terms of delaying the progression of advanced tumors and protecting postoperative patients against tumor relapse and metastasis, besides its noteworthy safety and efficacy. Immune induction in tumor microenvironments such as adoptive cell therapy, cancer vaccination, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and oncolytic viruses is one of the mechanisms initiating immunization in hepatocellular carcinoma. In this chapter we have reviewed the hepatobiliary tumors, the role of immunotherapy, and its relevant mechanisms to cancer therapy. In addition, some immunotherapeutic approaches are discussed.