Unraveling the TEC-associated landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive study based on multi-omics analyses

Abstract The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in tumor progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic responses. Among its key components, endothelial cells (ECs) are crucial regulators of angiogenesis, immune cell trafficking, and metabolic adaptations. This study integrates single-c...

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Main Authors: Jianwei Lan, Longhui Xie, Dekun Song, Pengpeng Liu, Quanyan Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-05-01
Series:Discover Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02543-x
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author Jianwei Lan
Longhui Xie
Dekun Song
Pengpeng Liu
Quanyan Liu
author_facet Jianwei Lan
Longhui Xie
Dekun Song
Pengpeng Liu
Quanyan Liu
author_sort Jianwei Lan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in tumor progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic responses. Among its key components, endothelial cells (ECs) are crucial regulators of angiogenesis, immune cell trafficking, and metabolic adaptations. This study integrates single-cell and transcriptomic analyses to identify tumor-specific endothelial cell signatures in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and stratify tumors into three distinct molecular subtypes. These subtypes exhibit unique immune landscapes and biological characteristics, including pathway activation and differential responses to immunotherapy and targeted treatments. Using machine learning, we developed a robust prognostic scoring model to predict patient outcomes and therapy responsiveness, which was validated across independent cohorts. Our findings highlight the critical role of endothelial cells in modulating the TME and underscore the potential of targeting EC-specific molecular features to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy and optimize personalized cancer treatment.
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issn 2730-6011
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Springer
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series Discover Oncology
spelling doaj-art-2b51d7b6375d467399e79a7df6dac7912025-08-20T03:16:34ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112025-05-0116111510.1007/s12672-025-02543-xUnraveling the TEC-associated landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive study based on multi-omics analysesJianwei Lan0Longhui Xie1Dekun Song2Pengpeng Liu3Quanyan Liu4Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General HospitalDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General HospitalDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General HospitalDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General HospitalDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General HospitalAbstract The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in tumor progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic responses. Among its key components, endothelial cells (ECs) are crucial regulators of angiogenesis, immune cell trafficking, and metabolic adaptations. This study integrates single-cell and transcriptomic analyses to identify tumor-specific endothelial cell signatures in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and stratify tumors into three distinct molecular subtypes. These subtypes exhibit unique immune landscapes and biological characteristics, including pathway activation and differential responses to immunotherapy and targeted treatments. Using machine learning, we developed a robust prognostic scoring model to predict patient outcomes and therapy responsiveness, which was validated across independent cohorts. Our findings highlight the critical role of endothelial cells in modulating the TME and underscore the potential of targeting EC-specific molecular features to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy and optimize personalized cancer treatment.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02543-xHepatocellular Carcinomaendothelial cellimmunotherapy
spellingShingle Jianwei Lan
Longhui Xie
Dekun Song
Pengpeng Liu
Quanyan Liu
Unraveling the TEC-associated landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive study based on multi-omics analyses
Discover Oncology
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
endothelial cell
immunotherapy
title Unraveling the TEC-associated landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive study based on multi-omics analyses
title_full Unraveling the TEC-associated landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive study based on multi-omics analyses
title_fullStr Unraveling the TEC-associated landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive study based on multi-omics analyses
title_full_unstemmed Unraveling the TEC-associated landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive study based on multi-omics analyses
title_short Unraveling the TEC-associated landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive study based on multi-omics analyses
title_sort unraveling the tec associated landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma a comprehensive study based on multi omics analyses
topic Hepatocellular Carcinoma
endothelial cell
immunotherapy
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02543-x
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AT longhuixie unravelingthetecassociatedlandscapeinhepatocellularcarcinomaacomprehensivestudybasedonmultiomicsanalyses
AT dekunsong unravelingthetecassociatedlandscapeinhepatocellularcarcinomaacomprehensivestudybasedonmultiomicsanalyses
AT pengpengliu unravelingthetecassociatedlandscapeinhepatocellularcarcinomaacomprehensivestudybasedonmultiomicsanalyses
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