# Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Antibody Drug Conjugates: A Systematic Review

## TL;DR

This paper reviews recent studies on antibody-drug conjugates for treating hepatocellular carcinoma, a deadly liver cancer, and highlights promising results from clinical trials.

## Contribution

The paper provides a systematic review of ADCs targeting GPC3 in hepatocellular carcinoma, focusing on recent clinical advancements from 2019 to 2024.

## Key findings

- ADCs targeting GPC3, such as GC33 and 32A9, show promising results in reducing tumor growth in advanced HCC.
- 12 high-quality articles were selected from 2019 to 2024, indicating a growing interest in ADCs for liver cancer treatment.
- ADCs offer a potential alternative to conventional chemotherapy with improved precision and reduced harm to healthy tissue.

## Abstract

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.