Viral immune microenvironment associated with tumor recurrence in liver transplantation of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma
10.12464/j.issn.1674-7445.2026085
- VernacularTitle:乙型肝炎病毒相关肝细胞癌肝移植肿瘤复发的病毒免疫微环境
- Author:
Tianfei GAO
1
;
Yuqing ZHANG
1
;
Xinglong YIN
1
;
Yang GAO
1
;
Zengxi LUO
1
;
Yingpeng ZHAO
1
Author Information
1. Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Ganmei Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming First People's Hospital, Kunming 650224, China.
- Publication Type:TransplantationForefront
- Keywords:
Hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma;
Liver transplantation;
Tumor recurrence;
Immune microenvironment;
Minimal residual disease;
Immunosuppression management;
Viral-host chimeric DNA;
Circulating tumor DNA
- From:
Organ Transplantation
2026;17(6):936-942
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
For patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who undergo liver transplantation, tumor recurrence remains the main factor limiting long-term survival. Current evidence suggests that tumor recurrence after transplantation is not merely the continuation of preoperative tumor remnants, but is also related to HBV DNA integration-driven clonal evolution, impaired anti-tumor immunity in the context of immunosuppression and the long-term interaction between the two. This article, based on recent studies, focuses on three aspects: the role of HBV DNA integration and related genomic rearrangements in the formation of recurrent clones, the impact of post-transplant immunosuppression on T cells, myeloid cells and innate immune effects, and the application progress of monitoring minimal residual disease represented by circulating tumor DNA in tumor recurrence warning and risk stratification. Combined with the actual clinical management of liver transplantation, this article discusses the limitations of current evidence and the subsequent research directions that deserve attention, providing a reference for the precise monitoring and stratified intervention of tumor recurrence after HBV-HCC liver transplantation.
