Intratumoral microbial heterogeneity in HCC reveals a potential therapeutic target.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and its therapeutic challenges are largely influenced by the complexity of the tumor microenvironment (TME). This study aimed to characterize intratumoral microbial heterogeneity, explore its role within the TME, and identify potential antitumor mechanisms and novel microbial targets.

Methods

A total of 113 tissue samples, including HCC tumor tissues (n = 48), matched adjacent normal tissues (n = 48), and normal liver tissues from patients with hepatic hemangioma (n = 17), were collected from patients at the Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing Hospital affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. Microbial profiling was performed using 2bRAD-M sequenci

SUBMITTER: Li L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12550791 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature