Lymphocyte exhaustion in hepatocellular carcinoma: a dynamic evolution across disease stages.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed cancer therapy. However, their efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited, highlighting the need to further explore immune microenvironments and novel biomarkers. This study examined lymphocyte populations and immune checkpoint dynamics in early, advanced, and post-progression HCC to better understand immune dynamics in HCC and to help identify predictive biomarkers and immune modulation strategies.

Methods

Tumoral and non-tumoral liver tissues were analyzed from HCC patients across early (n=25), advanced (n=22), and advanced-beyond-progression (n=15) stages. Lymphocyte profiling was performed using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, focusing on NK cells, T cells, and immune exhaustion markers.

SUBMITTER: Fuster-Anglada C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12179174 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature