Hepatocellular carcinoma: Lymphocyte infiltration predicts survival.

摘要

Few methods can accurately predict survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Using quantitative PCR and samples from 57 patients from Singapore and a validation cohort of 98 patients, a signature of 14 immune genes has been identified that can predict survival of these patients, particularly during the early stages of the disease. The signature includes the chemokine genes CXCL10, CCL5 and CCL2. These chemokines drive lymphocyte infiltration of the tumors, which results in increased death of cancer cells.