Qi-Feng Chen,1,2,* Song Chen,1,2,* Ming Zhao1,2 

1Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Therapy, Liver Cancer Study and Service Group, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 2State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Ming Zhao, Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Therapy, Liver Cancer Study and Service Group, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People’s Republic of China, Email zhaoming@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a highly aggressive form of liver neoplasm that presents various therapeutic obstacles. Recently, the synergistic use of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in conjunction with immunotherapy has attracted considerable interest within the medical community. This review aims to explore the synergistic mechanisms between TACE and immunotherapy, analyze the current research evidence, and discuss their potential applications in the treatment of HCC. By examining how TACE can enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy, we seek to provide direction for future research and emphasize the importance of personalized treatment strategies in managing HCC.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC, TACE, transarterial chemoembolization, immunotherapy, synergistic mechanisms, epigenetics