Research on single-cell transcriptomics in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent malignant tumors of the digestive system globally, with a particularly high incidence recorded in China due to the prevalence of chronic hepatitis virus infections. Recent developments in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology have provided new perspectives and approaches for cancer research, particularly showing great potential in understanding the heterogeneity of HCC. scRNA-seq technology, through detailed gene expression analysis at the single-cell level, reveals the cellular heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma, identify key drivers of tumor progression, and elucidates the complex features of the tumor microenvironment. Such insights are pivotal for decoding the underlying mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma, thereby guiding the development of precise therapeutic strategies and personalized treatments. Furthermore, identifying key drivers of tumor progression and analyzing the gene expression characteristics of the surrounding microenvironment at single-cell resolution is expected to provide clues for developing new therapeutic strategies. Therefore, this article aims to provide a systematic overview of the fundamental principles of scRNA-seq, review its progress in HCC research, and explore the challenges and future directions in this field to offer researchers a comprehensive perspective.