Deciphering the heterogeneity and plasticity of the tumor microenvironment in liver cancer provides insights for prognosis
Liver cancer exhibits diverse molecular characteristics and distinct immune cell infiltration patterns, which significantly influence patient outcomes. In this study, we thoroughly examined the liver cancer tumor environment by analyzing data from 419,866 individual cells across nine datasets involv...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1495280/full |
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| author | Yihao Sun Yihao Sun Guojuan Shi Jian Yang Chun-Zhong Zhou Chuhan Peng Yu-Hong Luo Ying Pan Rui-Qi Wang |
| author_facet | Yihao Sun Yihao Sun Guojuan Shi Jian Yang Chun-Zhong Zhou Chuhan Peng Yu-Hong Luo Ying Pan Rui-Qi Wang |
| author_sort | Yihao Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Liver cancer exhibits diverse molecular characteristics and distinct immune cell infiltration patterns, which significantly influence patient outcomes. In this study, we thoroughly examined the liver cancer tumor environment by analyzing data from 419,866 individual cells across nine datasets involving 99 patients. By categorizing patients into different groups based on their immune cell profiles, including immune deficiency, B cells-enriched, T cells-enriched and macrophages-enriched, we better understood how these cells change in various patient subgroups. Our investigation of liver metastases from intestinal cancer uncovered a group of mast cells that might promote metastasis through pathways like inositol phosphate metabolism. Using genomic and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, we identified specific cell components linked to tumor characteristics and genetics. Our detailed study of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) revealed how they adapt and acquire new functions in the tissue environment, highlighting their flexibility. Additionally, we found a significant connection between CAF-related genes and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. This research provides valuable insights into the makeup of the liver cancer tumor environment and its profound impact on patient outcomes, offering fresh perspectives for managing this challenging disease. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-22c9e8ea593748c29274ab503a324c38 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj-art-22c9e8ea593748c29274ab503a324c382025-01-30T06:22:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-01-011610.3389/fphar.2025.14952801495280Deciphering the heterogeneity and plasticity of the tumor microenvironment in liver cancer provides insights for prognosisYihao Sun0Yihao Sun1Guojuan Shi2Jian Yang3Chun-Zhong Zhou4Chuhan Peng5Yu-Hong Luo6Ying Pan7Rui-Qi Wang8Department of Pharmacy, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (The Affiliated Hospital of Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Zhuhai, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (The Affiliated Hospital of Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (The Affiliated Hospital of Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (The Affiliated Hospital of Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (The Affiliated Hospital of Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Zhuhai, ChinaCanyon Crest Academy, San Diego, CA, United StatesDepartment of Pharmacy, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (The Affiliated Hospital of Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (The Affiliated Hospital of Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (The Affiliated Hospital of Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Zhuhai, ChinaLiver cancer exhibits diverse molecular characteristics and distinct immune cell infiltration patterns, which significantly influence patient outcomes. In this study, we thoroughly examined the liver cancer tumor environment by analyzing data from 419,866 individual cells across nine datasets involving 99 patients. By categorizing patients into different groups based on their immune cell profiles, including immune deficiency, B cells-enriched, T cells-enriched and macrophages-enriched, we better understood how these cells change in various patient subgroups. Our investigation of liver metastases from intestinal cancer uncovered a group of mast cells that might promote metastasis through pathways like inositol phosphate metabolism. Using genomic and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, we identified specific cell components linked to tumor characteristics and genetics. Our detailed study of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) revealed how they adapt and acquire new functions in the tissue environment, highlighting their flexibility. Additionally, we found a significant connection between CAF-related genes and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. This research provides valuable insights into the makeup of the liver cancer tumor environment and its profound impact on patient outcomes, offering fresh perspectives for managing this challenging disease.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1495280/fullliver cancersingle-cellcancer-associated fibroblastsmetastasisprognosis |
| spellingShingle | Yihao Sun Yihao Sun Guojuan Shi Jian Yang Chun-Zhong Zhou Chuhan Peng Yu-Hong Luo Ying Pan Rui-Qi Wang Deciphering the heterogeneity and plasticity of the tumor microenvironment in liver cancer provides insights for prognosis Frontiers in Pharmacology liver cancer single-cell cancer-associated fibroblasts metastasis prognosis |
| title | Deciphering the heterogeneity and plasticity of the tumor microenvironment in liver cancer provides insights for prognosis |
| title_full | Deciphering the heterogeneity and plasticity of the tumor microenvironment in liver cancer provides insights for prognosis |
| title_fullStr | Deciphering the heterogeneity and plasticity of the tumor microenvironment in liver cancer provides insights for prognosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deciphering the heterogeneity and plasticity of the tumor microenvironment in liver cancer provides insights for prognosis |
| title_short | Deciphering the heterogeneity and plasticity of the tumor microenvironment in liver cancer provides insights for prognosis |
| title_sort | deciphering the heterogeneity and plasticity of the tumor microenvironment in liver cancer provides insights for prognosis |
| topic | liver cancer single-cell cancer-associated fibroblasts metastasis prognosis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1495280/full |
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