Single-Cell Characterization of the Tumor Ecosystem in Liver Cancer

Methods Mol Biol. 2024:2769:153-166. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3694-7_12.

Abstract

Tumor heterogeneity along with the complex landscape of the tumor microenvironment create critical challenges for effective liver cancer interventions. Characterizing the tumor ecosystem at the single-cell level may provide insight into the collective behaviors of tumor cells and their interplays with stromal and immune cells. Here we introduce the experimental protocol and computational methods for the single-cell study of liver cancer, which may be essential for a mechanistic understanding of the tumor ecosystem in liver cancer and further pave the way for developing novel therapeutics.

Keywords: Biodiversity; Cholangiocarcinoma; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver cancer; Single cell; Tumor ecosystem; Tumor heterogeneity; Tumor microenvironment.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Tumor Microenvironment