What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the prognostic significance of PD-L1+ circulating stem cells in predicting recurrence-free and overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after surgery.

May 21, 2026Open Access

The Prognostic Value of Circulating Stem Cells Expressing PD-L1 in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Key Points

To evaluate the prognostic significance of PD-L1+ circulating stem cells in predicting recurrence-free and overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after surgery.
Analyzed PD-L1+ circulating stem cells in 27 hepatocellular carcinoma patients before and after surgery at set intervals.
Monitored tumor recurrence biannually using alpha-fetoprotein measurements and imaging techniques.
Compared findings with control groups including benign liver disease patients, non-HCC malignancies, and healthy donors.
Before surgery, 29.7% of patients had detectable PD-L1+ circulating stem cells.
Postoperative frequency dropped to 22.3%, then significantly rose to 85% at six months and 88% at twelve months (p<0.001).
Correlation established between higher PD-L1+ CSC frequency and poorer recurrence-free survival and overall survival.

Abstract

Dhruvajyoti Roy,1, Elsie Oppermann,2, Thomas J Vogl,3 Ibrahim BÃ¼deyri,4 Dmitry Shapiro,4 Benjamin Struecker,4 Christian D Rolfo,5 Nada Abedin,6 Vladimir P Zharov,7 Andreas Schnitzbauer,8 Andreas Pascher,4 Wolf O Bechstein,2 Markus S Zimmermann,9, Mazen A Juratli4, 1Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; 2Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany; 3Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany; 4Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Muenster University Hospital, Muenster, Germany; 5Center for Thoracic Oncology, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai Health System, New York City, NY, USA; 6Department of Internal Medicine I, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany; 7Arkansas Nanomedicine Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Fayetteville, AR, USA; 8Department of Visceral, Oncological, and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Bochum, Germany; 9Clinic for General and Visceral Surgery, SchÃ¶n Clinic Neustadt, Neustadt in Holstein, GermanyThese authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Mazen A Juratli, Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Muenster University Hospital, Muenster, Germany, Email mazen.juratli@ukmuenster.deBackground: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with high recurrence rates despite curative-intent liver resection. This necessitates improved prognostic tools and novel therapeutic strategies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Circulating stem cells (CSCs) have emerged as potential prognostic biomarkers.Aim: To assess the prognostic relevance of CSCs expressing programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1+CSCs) in relation to recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients undergoing surgery for HCC.Methods: PD-L1+CSCs (CD45â/CD146+/ASGPR+/CD90+/PD-L1+) were analyzed in 27 HCC patients before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at 6 and 12 months after surgery using fluorescence-activated cell sorting and immunofluorescence microscopy. Tumor recurrence was monitored biannually through alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) measurements and imaging (CT/MRI). Control groups included patients with benign liver disease, non-HCC malignancies, and healthy donors.Results: Before surgery, 29.7% (8/27) of HCC patients had detectable PD-L1+CSCs. Postoperatively, their frequency initially declined to 22.3%, followed by a significant rise to 85% at six months and 88% at twelve months (both pâ¯

Bookmark

View Full Paper

Cite This Study

Roy et al. (Fri,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0ea074be05d6e3efb5f3e2 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2147/jhc.s598753

Bookmark

View Full Paper