Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Antibody Drug Conjugates: A Systematic Review.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, primarily associated with liver cirrhosis from factors like hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcohol abuse, metabolic syndrome, and genetic disorders. With the rising incidence of liver cancer, particularly in HBV-endemic regions, research into novel therapies like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) has gained momentum. ADCs target cancer cells by attaching cytotoxic drugs to antibodies, minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that ADCs targeting GPC3, such as GC33 and 32A9, show promising results in reducing tumor growth and improving patient outcomes in advanced HCC. These therapies offer a potential alternative to conventional chemotherapy, marking a significant advancement in precision oncology. This systematic review was implemented using various databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, EBSCO, and Public Library of Science (PLoS) using regular keywords and MeSH keywords. Eligibility criteria were restricted to free full texts in the English language, humans, and publications between 2019-2024. The exclusion criteria included languages other than English and publications before 2019. A total of 26 articles were identified, and 12 articles were selected after quality assessment.