Wang LL, Zhang FC, Xu HX, Deng DD, Ren BJ, Tan Q, Liu YX, Zhao WH, Lu JL. Advances in imaging techniques for tumor microenvironment evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2025; 31(10): 103454 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i10.103454]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Li-Li Wang, MD, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Radiology, The First Hospitals of Lanzhou University, No. 1 Donggangxi Road, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu Province, China. wangll19@lzu.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Oncology
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Li-Li Wang, Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu Province, China
Fa-Chang Zhang, Han-Xin Xu, Dian-Dian Deng, Bing-Jie Ren, Qi Tan, Ya-Xin Liu, Wen-Hui Zhao, Jia-Le Lu, First Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu Province, China
Co-first authors: Li-Li Wang and Fa-Chang Zhang.
Author contributions: Zhang FC contributed to the article drafting and critically reviewing the academic content of the article; Xu HX, Deng DD, and Ren BJ participated in the literature collection, checking and revising the content of the paper; Tan Q, Liu YX, Zhao WH, and Lu JL contributed to the creation of tables and figures, modifying the paper’s format; Wang LL contributed to the conceptualization and design of the paper, critically reviewing the academic content of the article, financial support. Wang LL and Zhang FC contributed equally to this study and are recognized as co-first authors.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82360132; and the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, No. ldyyyn2020-14.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Li-Li Wang, MD, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Radiology, The First Hospitals of Lanzhou University, No. 1 Donggangxi Road, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu Province, China. wangll19@lzu.edu.cn
Received: November 21, 2024 Revised: December 31, 2024 Accepted: February 11, 2025 Published online: March 14, 2025 Processing time: 98 Days and 13.4 Hours
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in the development and treatment of liver cancer, which ranks sixth in incidence and third in mortality worldwide, according to the “Global Cancer Statistics 2022”. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, is heavily influenced by the TME, which affects tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and the response to various treatments. Despite advancements in surgery, liver transplantation, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy, the complexity of the TME often limits treatment efficacy, especially in advanced-stage HCC cases. The TME consists of a dynamic interaction between tumor cells, immune cells, fibroblasts, blood vessels, and signaling molecules, all of which contribute to cancer progression and therapy resistance. Assessing the HCC TME is essential for designing effective, personalized treatments and improving patient outcomes. Recent research highlights the value of imaging technologies as non-invasive tools to evaluate the TME, offering new possibilities for more targeted therapies and better prognosis monitoring in HCC patients.
Core Tip: Imaging technologies play a crucial role in the preoperative assessment of the tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma. By evaluating key features such as vascularity, immune infiltration, and stromal components, these techniques provide valuable insights into tumor biology. A comprehensive assessment of the tumor microenvironment allows for the development of personalized treatment strategies, optimizing therapeutic outcomes for liver cancer patients. Advanced imaging modalities, including magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and positron emission tomography, help predict tumor behavior and response to treatment, ultimately contributing to more precise and effective clinical decision-making.
