Combined Immune Therapy Proves Effective in an Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patient With Poor Liver Reserve: A Case Report

There are no effective treatment options for patients with poor performance status and limited liver reserve, classified as Child-Pugh Grade B and C. A 61-year-old man with a prior medical history of hepatitis C virus infection was admitted to the hospital with abdominal distension and significant abdominal ascites. He was diagnosed with stage IVB hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), characterized by multiple metastases to lymph nodes, lungs, and bones. After receiving combined immune therapy, including dendritic cell therapy targeting WT1 and α-Galactosylceramide, natural killer cells, and Nivolumab, the patient showed significant improvement in HCC and liver reserve function and followed standard treatment. Combined immune therapy is potentially an important option for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and poor liver reserve function, especially for relatively young patients.