Targeting immune evasion in hepatocellular carcinoma-initiating cells.

Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are particularly efficient at evading detection and elimination by the human immune system. Recent data from Yang and collaborators demonstrate that - at least in preclinical hepatocellular carcinoma models - the immunological privilege of CD49f TICs can be limited by targeting CD155, resulting in restored sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors.