Figure 1.

Genetic alterations that perturb the cancer–immunity cycle and lead to tumor immune escape. Depiction of the cancer-immunity cycle (13). Tumor cells release antigens into the tumor microenvironment where they are sampled by circulating antigen presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells. These APCs traffic to the lymphoid organs where they present antigens to T cells leading to T cell priming and activation. These activated T cells traffic back to the tumor site where they infiltrate, recognize, and kill tumor cells expressing their cognate antigen. Known mechanisms of immune escape in HCC and other tumor types that perturb specific points in this process are indicated. Abbreviations are as follows: neoAg, neoantigen; TME, tumor microenvironment; DC, dendritic cell; Ag, antigen.