HBV antigen as a tumour antigen in adoptive TCR-T cell therapy for HBV-related HCC: rationale and clinical effectiveness.

Hepatocellular carcinoma developing in patients with HBV chronic infection are marked by expression of whole or partial HBV antigens through a highly tissue-specific process, determined by the hepatotropism of HBV. HBV antigens are therefore a possible target for adoptive T cell immunotherapy as their expression and, consequently, potential on-target off-tumour events, are confined to the liver compartment with no involvement of other organs. Here we summarise the research steps to develop T cell therapy that utilises viral antigen as a tumour antigen in HBV-related HCC and discuss the efficacy and the potential mechanisms of action of HBV-specific T cell receptor (TCR)-redirected T cells in phase I clinical trials.