Role of chemokines in the hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment and their translational value in immunotherapy

The difficulty of early diagnosis, high tumor heterogeneity, and high recurrence and metastasis rates lead to an unsatisfactory treatment status for hepatocellular carcinoma（HCC）. HCC is a typical inflammationdriven tumor. Chronic inflammation allows nascent tumors to escape immunosurveillance. Chemokines are small, soluble, secreted proteins that can regulate the activation and trafficking of immune cells during inflammation. Several studies have shown that various chemokines with overarching functions disrupt the immune microenvironment during the initiation and progression of HCC. The dysregulated chemokine network in HCC contributes to multiple malignant processes, including angiogenesis, tumor proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor low response, and resistance to immune therapy. Here, we summarize the current studies focusing on the role of chemokines and their receptors in the HCC immune microenvironment, highlighting potential translational therapeutic uses for modulating the chemokine system in HCC.