TGF-β signaling orchestrates cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment of human hepatocellular carcinoma: unveiling insights and clinical significance.

ABSTRACT: Liver cancer, specifically hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), stands out as one of the most formidable solid tumors, characterized by a dauntingly low survival rate. At the forefront of the tumor microenvironment (TME) orchestrating the initiation and advancement of HCC are cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). TGF-β, widely recognized as a potent activator of CAFs, not only regulates their activity but also assumes a pivotal role in the metastatic journey of the tumor. In our recent study, drawing from the GEO database, we identified two fibroblast subtypes in HCC through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and explore the expression and distribution of TGF-β and its receptors in the TME of HCC. Subsequently, we investigated the interactions between tumor cells expressing high levels (TGF

SUBMITTER: Ge J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11753146 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature