H-TEX-mediated signaling between hepatocellular carcinoma cells and macrophages and exosome-targeted therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

There is increasing evidence for the key role of the immune microenvironment in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma. As an important component of the immune microenvironment, the polarization state and function of macrophages determine the maintenance of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Hepatocellular carcinoma tumor-derived exosomes, as information carriers, regulate the physiological state of cells in the microenvironment and control cancer progression. In this review, we focus on the role of the exosome content in disease outcomes at different stages in the progression of hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. We also explore the mechanism by which macrophages contribute to the formation of hepatocellular carcinoma and summarize the regulation of macrophage functions by the heterogeneity of exosome loading in liver cancer. Finally, with the rise of exosome modification in immunotherapy research on hepatocellular carcinoma, we summarize the application prospects of exosome-based targeted drug delivery.

Automated summary

There is increasing evidence showing the crucial role of the immune microenvironment, particularly the polarization state and function of macrophages, in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Tumor-derived exosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma act as information carriers and regulate the physiological state of cells in the microenvironment, thus controlling cancer progression. This review focuses on the role of exosome content in disease outcomes at different stages of hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma, and explores the mechanism by which macrophages contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma formation and the regulation of macrophage functions by the heterogeneity of exosome loading. The application prospects of exosome-based targeted drug delivery in immunotherapy research on hepatocellular carcinoma are also summarized.