A study led by researchers at the National Cancer Centre Singapore and A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore has revealed unexpected molecular heterogeneity within liver tumors. More than 40% of hepatocellular carcinoma cases exhibit multiple molecular subtypes within the same tumor, with the most aggressive subtype predicting patient outcomes. This “bad apple effect” highlights the need for comprehensive sampling and personalized treatment strategies for liver cancer. The study, part of the PLANet project, analyzed over 600 samples from HCC patients in Asia-Pacific countries, finding intratumoral heterogeneity in the transcriptome and emphasizing the importance of targeting specific cell populations for effective therapies.
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Study uncovers multiple molecular subgroups in liver cancer with most aggressive driving clinical outcomes
