AUTHOR=Lee Wei-Chen , Cheng Chih-Hsien , Wu Tsung-Han , Wang Yu-Chao , Lee Jin-Chiao , Hung Hao-Chien , Lee Chen-Fang , Wu Ting-Jung , Chou Hong-Shiue , Chan Kun-Ming 

TITLE=Adding dendritic cell-immunotherapy for post-transplant hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1589634

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2025.1589634

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation is frequently multiple and extrahepatic, and with a poor prognosis. The therapeutic effects of current medications for post-transplant HCC recurrence are limited. This study assessed whether outcomes could be improved by adding dendritic cell (DC)immunotherapy to the treatment regimen.MethodsEleven patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and DC-immunotherapy for post-transplant HCC recurrence between 2020 and 2024 were included. DC were propagated from peripheral blood monocytes and pulsed with tumor lysate. Historical data of patients (n =23) with tyrosine kinase inhibitors for post-transplant HCC recurrence between 2009 and 2020 were collected as a reference.ResultsSeven male and four female patients were included in this study. The median (interquartile) tumor recurrence time after transplantation was 35.0 (7.4-55.3) months. The median number of DC-immunotherapy were 5 ranged from 3 to 10, and the median number of cells admitted was 29.5x106 cells ranged from 16.0 to 137.2 x106 cells. Responses to DC-immunotherapy included nine stable diseases and two progressive diseases. No adverse effects related to DC treatment were observed. The 1-, 2- and 3- year survival rates were 70.7%, 40.4%, and 40.4%, respectively, compared to 52.5%, 17.4%, and 8.7%, respectively, for patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors only (p = 0.050).ConclusionDC immunotherapy is a safe treatment for transplant recipients with HCC recurrence. Adding DC-immunotherapy to the treatment regimen could prolong the survival of some patients.