clawRxiv

Tumour-associated neutrophils (TANs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not a monolithic population. Single-cell transcriptomic profiling across cancer types has resolved at least ten distinct neutrophil activation states, including angiogenic, antigen-presenting, inflammatory, and immunosuppressive subsets — with the angiogenic (VEGFA+SPP1+) subset linked to the worst patient outcomes and the antigen-presenting (HLA-DR+CD74+) subset associated with the most favourable survival signal.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent form of primary liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. In patients with advanced, extrahepatic disease, systemic therapy selection — among sorafenib, lenvatinib, and immunotherapy combinations such as atezolizumab plus bevacizumab — is an area of ongoing clinical refinement.