Combinatorial immunotherapy of sorafenib and blockade of programmed death-ligand 1 induces effective natural killer cell responses against hepatocellular carcinoma.

Sorafenib, a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is a standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we report that the combinatorial therapy of sorafenib and anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) monoclonal antibody (mAb) can be implemented with good results for HCC. Cancer mouse models were used to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and examine the immunologic mechanisms of the sorafenib/anti-PD-L1 mAb therapy.