Lipid metabolism of hepatocellular carcinoma impacts targeted therapy and immunotherapy

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor that affecting many people's lives globally. The common risk factors for HCC include being overweight and obese. The liver is the center of lipid metabolism, synthesizing most cholesterol and fatty acids. Abnormal lipid metabolism is a significant feature of metabolic reprogramming in HCC and affects the prognosis of HCC patients by regulating inflammatory responses and changing the immune microenvironment. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are being explored as the primary treatment strategies for HCC patients with unresectable tumors. Here, we detail the specific changes of lipid metabolism in HCC and its impact on both these therapies for HCC. HCC treatment strategies aimed at targeting lipid metabolism and how to integrate them with targeted therapy or immunotherapy rationally are also presented.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Lipid metabolism; Targeted therapy; Immunotherapy; Drug resistance; Therapeutic efficacy

Core Tip: This review systematically summarizes the aberrant changes of lipid metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and for the first time expounds the impact of lipid metabolism on HCC targeted therapy and immunotherapy. It vividly displayed the changes of lipid metabolism in HCC and the targets of some reagents by drawing figures, and summarized the impact of lipid metabolism related reagents on HCC targeted therapy and immunotherapy through table.