Single-Cell Profiling of Liver-infiltrating Immune Cells of Patients with NASH- and Virus-related HCC: Implications for Immunotherapy

Launched by FONDAZIONE IRCCS POLICLINICO SAN MATTEO DI PAVIA · Mar 21, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The TME is infiltrated by several populations of immune cells, among which effector cytotoxic T and NK cells mediate tumor immuno-surveillance. By contrast, inhibitory subpopulations, including CD4+ regulatory T cells and tumor-associated myeloid cells and macrophages, can counteract immune responses and favor tumor growth. Some studies have recently deciphered the composition of the TME in HCC regardless of etiology.

In order to unveil differences in the infiltrating immune cells associated with MASL- and virus-related HCC we propose the following:

1. Patient enrollment, sample collectio...

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Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion criteria:
• • HCV-related HCC or MASLD-related HCC
• • age: ≥ 18 years, ≤ 90 years
• • Signature of the informed consent
• Esclusion criteria:
• • Concomitant pathologies with a life expectancy of less than 12 months
• • Autoimmune or chronic inflammatory diseases
• • Treatment with atezolizumab, bevacizumab, sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, cabozantinib, checkpoint inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, or anti-VEGF therapies
• • Other ongoing extrahepatic malignancies or those diagnosed within the last 3 years, except for tumors resected with curative intent and with no evidence of disease recurrence for \>3 years prior to the signing of informed consent, and considered at low risk of recurrence
• • HIV infection
• • Lack of patient cooperation and failure to sign the informed consent