ArticleGut2017
Interaction between tumour-infiltrating B cells and T cells controls the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Article in Gut, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 310 papers.
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Who cites it
310 citing papers in PubMed, 459 citations in OpenAlex.
- B cells in cancer: functions, mechanisms and therapeutic advances.Signal transduction and targeted therapy · 2026Review
- Hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis-immune microenvironment crosstalk: emerging mechanisms and immunotherapy.Cellular & molecular biology letters · 2026Review
- Targeting ferroptosis induction via nanomaterials in hepatocellular carcinoma: an insight into mechanism and therapeutic potential.Journal of nanobiotechnology · 2026Review
- Defining the rules of engagement: B cells, antibodies and cancer control.Cellular & molecular immunology · 2026Review
- Breakthroughs in HBV-related HCC Therapy: The Unmatched Potential of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.Current treatment options in oncology · 2026Review
- Review
- Neoadjuvant Immunochemotherapy Increases the Abundance of Tertiary Lymphoid Structures and Lymphocyte Subpopulations Is Associated With Prognosis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.Cancer medicine · 2026Article
- Clinical applications of immunogenomics in hepatocellular carcinoma.Clinical and molecular hepatology · 2026Review
- Psychological and quality of life outcomes associated with multikinase inhibitors versus immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Analysis of prognostic factors related to pulmonary metastasectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma following liver resection.Discover oncology · 2026Article
- Macrotrabecular-Massive Subtype Is Associated with a High Risk of the Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Filaggrin as a potential biomarker in gastric cancer: insights from multi-omics analysis and experimental validation.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Article
- Secretory Lysosome-Related Gene Signature Defines the Immune Microenvironment and Identifies RGS2 as a Prometastatic Factor in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.Human mutation · 2026Article
- Tumor antigen-associated autoantibodies: generation mechanisms, roles in tumorigenesis and progression, and clinical application prospects.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
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- Tissue-resident memory CD8Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology · 2025Review
- Glucose starvation mimetic aldometanib removes immune barriers permitting mice with hepatocellular carcinoma to live to normal ages.Cell research · 2025Article
- Shaping Antitumor Immunity with Peptide Vaccines: Implications of Immune Modulation at the Vaccine Site.Vaccines · 2025Review
250 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
18 authors at 11 institutions in 10 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThe nature of the tumour-infiltrating leucocytes (TILs) is known to impact clinical outcome in carcinomas, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role of tumour-infiltrating B cells (TIBs) remains controversial. Here, we investigate the impact of TIBs and their interaction with T cells on HCC patient prognosis.
designTissue samples were obtained from 112 patients with HCC from Singapore, Hong Kong and Zurich and analysed using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. RNA expression of CD19, CD8A, IFNG was analysed using quantitative PCR. The phenotype of freshly isolated TILs was analysed using flow cytometry. A mouse model depleted of mature B cells was used for functional study.
resultsTumour-infiltrating T cells and B cells were observed in close contact with each other and their densities are correlated with superior survival in patients with HCC. Furthermore, the density of TIBs was correlated with an enhanced expression of granzyme B and IFN-γ, as well as with reduced tumour viability defined by low expression of Ki-67, and an enhanced expression of activated caspase-3 on tumour cells. CD27 and CD40 costimulatory molecules and TILs expressing activation marker CD38 in the tumour were also correlated with patient survival. Mice depleted of mature B cells and transplanted with murine hepatoma cells showed reduced tumour control and decreased local T cell activation, further indicating the important role of B cells.
conclusionsThe close proximity of tumour-infiltrating T cells and B cells indicates a functional interaction between them that is linked to an enhanced local immune activation and contributes to better prognosis for patients with HCC.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.