How Tregs Help Liver Cancer Grow
Author Information
Author(s): Chen Kang-Jie, Lin Sheng-Zhang, Zhou Lin, Xie Hai-Yang, Zhou Wu-Hua, Taki-Eldin Ahmed, Zheng Shu-Sen
Primary Institution: Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
Hypothesis
The study investigates the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their recruitment mechanisms.
Conclusion
The study concludes that the CCL20-CCR6 axis mediates the migration of Tregs into the tumor microenvironment, leading to tumor progression and poor prognosis in HCC patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Tregs were found to be highly prevalent in tumor tissues of HCC patients.
- The number of tumor-infiltrating Tregs was associated with cirrhosis and tumor differentiation.
- Increased Treg density predicted poorer overall and disease-free survival in HCC patients.
Takeaway
This study found that certain immune cells called Tregs move into liver tumors and help the cancer grow, making it harder for patients to survive.
Methodology
The study analyzed the frequency, phenotype, and trafficking properties of Tregs in HCC patients using flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining.
Participant Demographics
293 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, including 246 males and 47 females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P = 0.011 for cirrhosis association; P = 0.003 for tumor differentiation association; P = 0.013 for overall survival hazard ratio.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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