HCC and Immunotherapy: The Potential Predictive Role of Gut Microbiota and Future Therapeutic Strategies

During the last decade, a new therapeutic revolution has involved the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This is made possible thanks to the documented efficacy of immunotherapy for this disease. In addition, new evidence has demonstrated the role of the gut–liver axis and gut microbiota...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Carmelo Laface, Eleonora Lauricella, Girolamo Ranieri, Francesca Ambrogio, Felicia Maria Maselli, Elena Parlagreco, Giulia Bernardi, Elena Fea, Gianmauro Numico
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Onco
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7523/5/1/9
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850091348383760384
author Carmelo Laface
Eleonora Lauricella
Girolamo Ranieri
Francesca Ambrogio
Felicia Maria Maselli
Elena Parlagreco
Giulia Bernardi
Elena Fea
Gianmauro Numico
author_facet Carmelo Laface
Eleonora Lauricella
Girolamo Ranieri
Francesca Ambrogio
Felicia Maria Maselli
Elena Parlagreco
Giulia Bernardi
Elena Fea
Gianmauro Numico
author_sort Carmelo Laface
collection DOAJ
description During the last decade, a new therapeutic revolution has involved the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This is made possible thanks to the documented efficacy of immunotherapy for this disease. In addition, new evidence has demonstrated the role of the gut–liver axis and gut microbiota in host homeostasis, tumor development, and response to therapies. In particular, intestinal dysbiosis can alter the tumor microenvironment, leading to the activation of intracellular signaling pathways that promote carcinogenesis. The composition of gut microbiota proved to influence the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) efficacy and drug toxicities. Therefore, this review aims to deepen knowledge about the immunomodulatory role of gut microbiota and its possible employment as diagnostic and predictive biomarkers in diagnosis and response to HCC immunotherapy, respectively. The research was conducted through the analysis of Pubmed and Web of Science (WoS) databases for literature studies on the relationship between gut microbiota and HCC from 2015 to 2025.
format Article
id doaj-art-2513ea6385b341f7b14fdfdaa217026d
institution DOAJ
issn 2673-7523
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Onco
spelling doaj-art-2513ea6385b341f7b14fdfdaa217026d2025-08-20T02:42:24ZengMDPI AGOnco2673-75232025-02-0151910.3390/onco5010009HCC and Immunotherapy: The Potential Predictive Role of Gut Microbiota and Future Therapeutic StrategiesCarmelo Laface0Eleonora Lauricella1Girolamo Ranieri2Francesca Ambrogio3Felicia Maria Maselli4Elena Parlagreco5Giulia Bernardi6Elena Fea7Gianmauro Numico8Medical Oncology, AOS. Croce e Carle, 12100 Cuneo, ItalyDepartment of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, ItalyUnità di Oncologia Interventistica, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II Bari, 70124 Bari, ItalySection of Dermatology, Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, ItalyUnit of Medical Oncology and Biomolecular Therapy, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Policlinico Riuniti, 71100 Foggia, ItalyMedical Oncology, AOS. Croce e Carle, 12100 Cuneo, ItalyMedical Oncology, AOS. Croce e Carle, 12100 Cuneo, ItalyMedical Oncology, AOS. Croce e Carle, 12100 Cuneo, ItalyMedical Oncology, AOS. Croce e Carle, 12100 Cuneo, ItalyDuring the last decade, a new therapeutic revolution has involved the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This is made possible thanks to the documented efficacy of immunotherapy for this disease. In addition, new evidence has demonstrated the role of the gut–liver axis and gut microbiota in host homeostasis, tumor development, and response to therapies. In particular, intestinal dysbiosis can alter the tumor microenvironment, leading to the activation of intracellular signaling pathways that promote carcinogenesis. The composition of gut microbiota proved to influence the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) efficacy and drug toxicities. Therefore, this review aims to deepen knowledge about the immunomodulatory role of gut microbiota and its possible employment as diagnostic and predictive biomarkers in diagnosis and response to HCC immunotherapy, respectively. The research was conducted through the analysis of Pubmed and Web of Science (WoS) databases for literature studies on the relationship between gut microbiota and HCC from 2015 to 2025.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7523/5/1/9HCCimmunotherapyimmune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs)gut microbiota
spellingShingle Carmelo Laface
Eleonora Lauricella
Girolamo Ranieri
Francesca Ambrogio
Felicia Maria Maselli
Elena Parlagreco
Giulia Bernardi
Elena Fea
Gianmauro Numico
HCC and Immunotherapy: The Potential Predictive Role of Gut Microbiota and Future Therapeutic Strategies
Onco
HCC
immunotherapy
immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs)
gut microbiota
title HCC and Immunotherapy: The Potential Predictive Role of Gut Microbiota and Future Therapeutic Strategies
title_full HCC and Immunotherapy: The Potential Predictive Role of Gut Microbiota and Future Therapeutic Strategies
title_fullStr HCC and Immunotherapy: The Potential Predictive Role of Gut Microbiota and Future Therapeutic Strategies
title_full_unstemmed HCC and Immunotherapy: The Potential Predictive Role of Gut Microbiota and Future Therapeutic Strategies
title_short HCC and Immunotherapy: The Potential Predictive Role of Gut Microbiota and Future Therapeutic Strategies
title_sort hcc and immunotherapy the potential predictive role of gut microbiota and future therapeutic strategies
topic HCC
immunotherapy
immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs)
gut microbiota
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7523/5/1/9
work_keys_str_mv AT carmelolaface hccandimmunotherapythepotentialpredictiveroleofgutmicrobiotaandfuturetherapeuticstrategies
AT eleonoralauricella hccandimmunotherapythepotentialpredictiveroleofgutmicrobiotaandfuturetherapeuticstrategies
AT girolamoranieri hccandimmunotherapythepotentialpredictiveroleofgutmicrobiotaandfuturetherapeuticstrategies
AT francescaambrogio hccandimmunotherapythepotentialpredictiveroleofgutmicrobiotaandfuturetherapeuticstrategies
AT feliciamariamaselli hccandimmunotherapythepotentialpredictiveroleofgutmicrobiotaandfuturetherapeuticstrategies
AT elenaparlagreco hccandimmunotherapythepotentialpredictiveroleofgutmicrobiotaandfuturetherapeuticstrategies
AT giuliabernardi hccandimmunotherapythepotentialpredictiveroleofgutmicrobiotaandfuturetherapeuticstrategies
AT elenafea hccandimmunotherapythepotentialpredictiveroleofgutmicrobiotaandfuturetherapeuticstrategies
AT gianmauronumico hccandimmunotherapythepotentialpredictiveroleofgutmicrobiotaandfuturetherapeuticstrategies