Post-translational modifications in hepatocellular carcinoma: unlocking new frontiers in immunotherapy
Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is one of the most common and aggressive malignancies worldwide. Immunotherapy has shown promising results in treating HCC, but its efficacy is often limited by complex mechanisms of immune evasion. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of...
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| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1554372/full |
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| author | Yuexian Piao Naicui Zhai Xiaoling Zhang Xiaoling Zhang Wenjie Zhao Wenjie Zhao Min Li |
| author_facet | Yuexian Piao Naicui Zhai Xiaoling Zhang Xiaoling Zhang Wenjie Zhao Wenjie Zhao Min Li |
| author_sort | Yuexian Piao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is one of the most common and aggressive malignancies worldwide. Immunotherapy has shown promising results in treating HCC, but its efficacy is often limited by complex mechanisms of immune evasion. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins play a critical role in regulating the immune responses within the tumor microenvironment (TME). These modifications influence protein function, stability, and interactions, which either promote or inhibit immune cell activity in cancer. In this mini-review, we explore the diverse PTMs that impact immune evasion in liver cancer, including glycosylation, phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination. We focus on how these PTMs regulate key immune checkpoint molecules such as PD-L1, CTLA-4, and the TCR complex. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of targeting PTMs in combination with existing immunotherapies to enhance the effectiveness of treatment in HCC. Understanding the role of PTMs in immune regulation may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance to immunotherapy in liver cancer. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba6e4bacdd324d14927b4c7f39541d62 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba6e4bacdd324d14927b4c7f39541d622025-08-20T02:43:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-02-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15543721554372Post-translational modifications in hepatocellular carcinoma: unlocking new frontiers in immunotherapyYuexian Piao0Naicui Zhai1Xiaoling Zhang2Xiaoling Zhang3Wenjie Zhao4Wenjie Zhao5Min Li6Department of Interventional Therapy, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaCore Facility of First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaKey Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaNational-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaKey Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaNational-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaDepartment of Interventional Therapy, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaLiver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is one of the most common and aggressive malignancies worldwide. Immunotherapy has shown promising results in treating HCC, but its efficacy is often limited by complex mechanisms of immune evasion. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins play a critical role in regulating the immune responses within the tumor microenvironment (TME). These modifications influence protein function, stability, and interactions, which either promote or inhibit immune cell activity in cancer. In this mini-review, we explore the diverse PTMs that impact immune evasion in liver cancer, including glycosylation, phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination. We focus on how these PTMs regulate key immune checkpoint molecules such as PD-L1, CTLA-4, and the TCR complex. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of targeting PTMs in combination with existing immunotherapies to enhance the effectiveness of treatment in HCC. Understanding the role of PTMs in immune regulation may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance to immunotherapy in liver cancer.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1554372/fullpost-translation modificationimmunotherapyhepatocellular carcinomalactylationglycosylation |
| spellingShingle | Yuexian Piao Naicui Zhai Xiaoling Zhang Xiaoling Zhang Wenjie Zhao Wenjie Zhao Min Li Post-translational modifications in hepatocellular carcinoma: unlocking new frontiers in immunotherapy Frontiers in Immunology post-translation modification immunotherapy hepatocellular carcinoma lactylation glycosylation |
| title | Post-translational modifications in hepatocellular carcinoma: unlocking new frontiers in immunotherapy |
| title_full | Post-translational modifications in hepatocellular carcinoma: unlocking new frontiers in immunotherapy |
| title_fullStr | Post-translational modifications in hepatocellular carcinoma: unlocking new frontiers in immunotherapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Post-translational modifications in hepatocellular carcinoma: unlocking new frontiers in immunotherapy |
| title_short | Post-translational modifications in hepatocellular carcinoma: unlocking new frontiers in immunotherapy |
| title_sort | post translational modifications in hepatocellular carcinoma unlocking new frontiers in immunotherapy |
| topic | post-translation modification immunotherapy hepatocellular carcinoma lactylation glycosylation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1554372/full |
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