Differences in Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte Counts in the Peritumoral Area in Patients Undergoing Hepatic Resection After Lenvatinib and Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

AIM: With advances in systemic therapy, the number of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who can undergo hepatic resection has increased in recent years, but there are no reports evaluating the immune status in the peritumoral area. METHODS: We enrolled 14 patients who underwent hepatic resection after lenvatinib (LEN, n = 7) or atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (ATZ/BEV, n = 5) therapy. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), including CD3+ and CD8+ TILs, in the peritumoral area were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The median TIL counts after LEN and ATZ/BEV therapy were 32 and 92 cells/0.237 mm(2), respectively (p = 0.0044). The median CD3+ TIL counts after LEN and ATZ/BEV therapy were 26 and 71 cells/0.237 mm(2), respectively (p = 0.0057). The median CD8+ TIL counts after LEN and ATZ/BEV therapy were 14 and 42 cells/0.237 mm(2), respectively (p = 0.0044). CONCLUSION: TIL counts, including those of CD3+ and CD8+ TILs, in the peritumoral area were significantly higher after ATZ/BEV than after LEN therapy.