Ilhan Y, Ergun Y. Maximizing therapeutic outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma: Insights into combinatorial strategies. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16(7): 2888-2893 [PMID: 39072186 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i7.2888]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Yakup Ergun, MD, Department of Medical Oncology, Antalya City Hospital, Gocerler neighborhood, 5379 Street, Antalya 07080, Türkiye. dr.yakupergun@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Oncology
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jul 15, 2024; 16(7): 2888-2893 Published online Jul 15, 2024. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i7.2888
Maximizing therapeutic outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma: Insights into combinatorial strategies
Yusuf Ilhan, Yakup Ergun
Yusuf Ilhan, Yakup Ergun, Department of Medical Oncology, Antalya City Hospital, Antalya 07080, Türkiye
Author contributions: Ilhan Y reviewed the literature and wrote the manuscript; Ergun Y contributed to the discussion and design of the manuscript. All authors reviewed, edited, and approved the final manuscript and revised it critically for important intellectual content, gave final approval of the version to be published and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that there are no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and publication of the manuscript.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Yakup Ergun, MD, Department of Medical Oncology, Antalya City Hospital, Gocerler neighborhood, 5379 Street, Antalya 07080, Türkiye. dr.yakupergun@gmail.com
Received: March 1, 2024 Revised: April 18, 2024 Accepted: April 30, 2024 Published online: July 15, 2024 Processing time: 133 Days and 7.7 Hours
Abstract
In this editorial, we review the article by Ma and colleagues, published in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related mortality. Although transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been used effectively for several years, particularly in patients with intermediate-stage HCC, the quest for the optimal combination therapy to enhance its efficacy and HCC treatment strategies persists. Combining TACE with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like sorafenib or lenvatinib has shown confusing results in improving both progression-free survival and overall survival. Similarly, combining TACE with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has demonstrated potential efficacy by reshaping the tumor microenvironment and activating immune responses. Recent studies suggest combining TACE with TKIs and ICIs may offer synergistic effects. Additionally, combining TKIs and ICIs with other local treatments like microwave ablation or hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy has shown promise in enhancing efficacy. However, more extensive prospective studies are needed to validate these findings. Overall, these combinations represent a promising direction in HCC management, emphasizing the need for further research to optimize treatment outcomes.
Core Tip: Combining transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors shows promise in enhancing therapeutic outcomes for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, offering viable alternatives when TACE alone is ineffective or unsuitable. Further exploration and validation of these combination therapies with TACE, as well as investigating other local treatment options for potential synergistic effects, are warranted to optimize HCC treatment strategies.
