CXCL12+ Tumor-associated Endothelial Cells Promote Immune Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the limited efficacy of existing treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with tumor-associated endothelial cells (TECs) serving as fundamental TME components that substantially influence tumor progression and treatment efficacy. However, the precise roles and mechanisms of TECs in HCC remain inadequately understood.