PDCD1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Neoadjuvant cemiplimab (anti-PD1) prior to hepatectomy has been studied in a phase II trial on 21 patients with resectable HCC, and 20% of patients had significant tumor necrosis in the resected tumor sample.74 A similar trial on 30 patients with resectable HCC reported that neoadjuvant use of nivolumab or nivolumab + ipilimumab prior to surgical resection led to significant tumor necrosis in approximately 30% of patients.75 While these two studies highlighted the potential anti-tumor effect of systemic therapy prior to surgery, their impact on recurrence risk and survival remains uncertain.