Immunogenic cell death markers in liver cancer

Primary and secondary liver cancers are still a major medical and social problem due to the often late diagnosis and poor prognosis. Therefore meaningful biomarkers for better diagnosis, therapy stratification, and monitoring are highly needed. Beyond conventional clinical and tumor markers, immunogenic cell death (ICD) markers are promising new candidates. They comprise an inhomogeneous group of molecules that are released from apoptotic or necrotic cells. In blood, these danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) such as the high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) are able to exert activating and suppressive effects on the immunity system and promote tumor growth and invasiveness. Here, we review the pathophysiology of primary and secondary liver cancer, the current therapeutic approaches, and the role of immunogenic cell death markers for the development and progression of cancer disease. Further, we report on their relevance as serum biomarkers for the diagnosis, estimation of prognosis, as well as the prediction and monitoring of response to cytotoxic therapy in cancer patients.