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World J Gastrointest Oncol. Apr 15, 2026; 18(4): 114547
Published online Apr 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i4.114547
Published online Apr 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i4.114547
CD161+CD8+ T cells in patients with hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma
Chen-Rui Liu, Meng Zhang, Mu-Qi Wang, Jin Li, Gao-Zhao Shi, Ya-Ping Li, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
Wen Zhang, Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
Fan-Fan Liang, Na Huang, Biological Diagnosis and Treatment Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Ya-Ping Li and Na Huang.
Author contributions: Li YP and Huang N contribute equally to this study as co-corresponding authors; Liu CR conceptualized and outlined the manuscript and performed the statistical analysis; Liu CR, Li YP and Huang N contributed to the writing, editing, illustration, and literature review; Zhang M, Wang MQ, and Zhang W assisted with figure preparation; Zhang M supported the literature review; Li J and Shi GZ participated in the collection and testing of blood samples; Huang N and Liang FF provided funding support for this research.
Supported by the Basic and Clinical Integration Project of Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. YXJLRH2022067; and Shaanxi Provincial Basic Research Program in Natural Sciences, No. 2023-JC-YB-647 and No. 2023-JC-QN-0918.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University (Approval No. 2022110).
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Corresponding author: Na Huang, PhD, Biological Diagnosis and Treatment Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 157 Xiwu Road, Xincheng District, Xi’an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China. huangna_428@163.com
Received: September 26, 2025
Revised: December 15, 2025
Accepted: January 26, 2026
Published online: April 15, 2026
Processing time: 195 Days and 1.6 Hours
Revised: December 15, 2025
Accepted: January 26, 2026
Published online: April 15, 2026
Processing time: 195 Days and 1.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This study reveals elevated CD161+CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, correlating with disease progression. Programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) inhibitors reduced PD-1+ subsets but did not alter CD161 expression, indicating CD161 operates independently of PD-1 pathways. Critically, CD161 protein overexpression in HCC tissues—exceeding paracancerous and chronic hepatitis B tis