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REVIEW article
Front. Immunol.
Sec. Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1523190
This article is part of the Research TopicNon-coding RNAs as Potential Therapeutics and Biomarkers for Human DiseasesView all 11 articles
Long non-coding RNAs as Key Modulators of the Immune Microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Implications for Immunotherapy
Provisionally accepted- Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a major global health challenge, characterized by its complex immune microenvironment that plays a pivotal role in tumor progression and therapeutic response. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of various biological processes, including gene expression and immune cell function. This review explores the multifaceted roles of lncRNAs in modulating the immune microenvironment of HCC. We discuss how lncRNAs influence the infiltration and activation of immune cells, shape cytokine profiles, and regulate immune checkpoint molecules, thereby affecting the tumor's immunogenicity and response to immunotherapy. Furthermore, we highlight specific lncRNAs implicated in immune evasion mechanisms and their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. By elucidating the intricate interplay between lncRNAs and the immune landscape in HCC, this review aims to provide insights into novel strategies for enhancing immunotherapeutic efficacy and improving patient outcomes.
Keywords: lncRNAs, HCC, immune microenvironment, Immunotherapy, Immune Evasion
Received: 05 Nov 2024; Accepted: 02 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhao, Chen, Hu, Li, Gao, Chen, Wang and Zhengwei. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Song Zhengwei, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.