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World J Gastrointest Oncol. Nov 15, 2026; 18(11): 120101
Published online Nov 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.120101
Published online Nov 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.120101
CD161-lectin-like transcript 1 axis beyond programmed cell death protein 1 in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma
Hai Nguyen Ngoc Dang, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
Hai Nguyen Ngoc Dang, Thang Viet Luong, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Tasmania, Australia
Hau Phuc Tran, Hung Minh Vu, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
Trung Tran Nguyen, NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
Trung Tran Nguyen, Nguyen Tat Thanh University Center for Hi-Tech Development, Saigon Hi-Tech Park, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
Bich Ngoc Hoang Thi, Department of Outpatient, Gia An 115 Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
Thanh Van Ho, Department of Breast Surgery, Nghe An Hospital, Nghe An 460000, Vietnam
Adegbesan Abiodun Christopher, Department of Global Health, African Cancer Institute, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
Hung Tran Xuan, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nghe An General Friendship Hospital, Nghe An 460000, Vietnam
Co-first authors: Hai Nguyen Ngoc Dang and Hau Phuc Tran.
Co-corresponding authors: Hung Minh Vu and Thang Viet Luong.
Author contributions: Nguyen Ngoc Dang H and Phuc Tran H are co-first authors and contributed equally to the study’s conception, methodology, and drafting of the original manuscript; Minh Vu H, Tran Nguyen T, Hoang Thi BN, Van Ho T, Abiodun Christopher A, Tran Xuan H contributed to the literature review, data interpretation, and manuscript writing and editing; Minh Vu H and Viet Luong T contributed to critical revisions, and correspondence, and they contributed equally to this manuscript as co-corresponding authors. All the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
AI contribution statement: We used ChatGPT solely as a tool for grammar checking and language polishing to improve the clarity and flow of the manuscript. No portion of the main text (abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, and conclusion) was AI-generated. The entire content and all original ideas were developed and written exclusively by the research team. The AI tool was used only for language polishing and stylistic improvements, sometimes for translation. It was not utilized for data analysis or any form of writing assistance. No AI tool participated in the design of the study or the interpretation of the research results. All figures in the manuscript were created using specialized professional software by the authors. We did not use AI to generate any figures.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Thang Viet Luong, MD, MSc, Lecturer, Researcher, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Level 1, Medical Science 1/17 Liverpool Street, Hobart 7000, Tasmania, Australia. vietthang.luong@utas.edu.au
Received: February 24, 2026
Revised: March 27, 2026
Accepted: April 17, 2026
Published online: November 15, 2026
Processing time: 252 Days and 6.9 Hours
Revised: March 27, 2026
Accepted: April 17, 2026
Published online: November 15, 2026
Processing time: 252 Days and 6.9 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: In hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma, CD161+CD8+ T cells are enriched in tumor tissue and may persist despite programmed death-1 blockade, suggesting that immune inhibition is not fully explained by the programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 axis alone. These observations raise the possibility that the CD161-lectin-like transcript 1 pathway represents a complementary mechanism of adaptive immune resistance. This editorial highlights the importance of protein-level CD161 assessment and discusses the translational relevance of this axis as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for future investigation.