Relationship between TIGIT expression on T cells and the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

• Published in: BMC cancer 2024-09, Vol.24 (1), p.1120-11, Article 1120
• Main Authors: Guo, Yuan, Yang, Xiong, Xia, Wei Li, Zhu, Wen Bo, Li, Fang Ting, Hu, Hong Tao, Li, Hai Liang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological response modifiers; Cancer therapies; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - immunology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - mortality; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - therapy; Cell receptors; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic - methods; Development and progression; Disease; Enzymes; Female; Health aspects; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Hepatoma; Hospitals; Humans; Immune system; Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif; Immunoregulation; Immunotherapy; Interferon; Interleukins; Liver cancer; Liver Neoplasms - immunology; Liver Neoplasms - metabolism; Liver Neoplasms - mortality; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Liver Neoplasms - therapy; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Male; Medical prognosis; Middle Aged; Normal distribution; Patients; Physiological aspects; Prognosis; Receptors, Immunologic - metabolism; Receptors, Virus - metabolism; Retrospective Studies; Sample size; Software; Statistical analysis; T cells; T-cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif domains; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization; Tumors; Tyrosine; Veins & arteries; γ-Interferon
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12876-5

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy can significantly improve the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). T-cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif domains (TIGIT) is a novel immunosuppressive molecule. This study aimed to analyze the clinical correlation between TIGIT expression on T cells and patients with HCC. Clinical data from 140 patients with HCC were retrospectively collected, and TIGIT expression on T cells was examined in each patient. Patients were subsequently divided into high- and low-expression groups, and their prognosis was analyzed. Patients with a high TIGIT expression on their T cells at baseline had a larger tumor volume, later staging, higher proportion of regulatory T cells, higher blood concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10, and lower interferon-γ concentrations. Following TACE, CD155 concentration decreased; however, TACE did not affect TIGIT expression on T cells. Additionally, among patients receiving TACE combined with apatinib and camrelizumab treatment, patients with a high TIGIT expression on T cells had significantly shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival times than those of patients in the low-expression group. Patients receiving TACE combined with apatinib and camrelizumab treatment with higher TIGIT expression have shorter PFS time than those receiving TACE combined with apatinib treatment. Patients with HCC that have a high TIGIT expression on their T cells exhibited poorer baseline characteristics, immunosuppressive status, and prognosis after receiving TACE combined with apatinib and camrelizumab and maybe more suited to receive TACE combined with apatinib treatment instead.