Integration of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics reveals fibroblast subtypes in hepatocellular carcinoma: spatial distribution, differentiation trajectories, and therapeutic potential.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor microenvironment (TME). regulating tumor proliferation, metastasis, therapy resistance, immune evasion via diverse mechanisms. A deeper understanding of the l diversity of CAFs is essential for predicting patient prognosis and guiding treatment strategies.

Methods

We examined the diversity of CAFs in HCC by integrating single-cell, bulk, and spatial transcriptome analyses.

Results

Using a training cohort of 88 HCC single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) samples and a validation cohort of 94 samples, encompassing over 1.2 million cells, we classified three fibroblast subpopulations in HCC: HLA-DRB1 + CAF, MMP11 + CAF, and VEGFA + CAF based on highly expressed g

SUBMITTER: Liu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11837652 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature