Transcriptomic landscape of NK cell-related genes in hepatocellular carcinoma: associations with prognosis and therapeutic response.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive and heterogeneous malignancy, in which natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in tumor progression and immune surveillance. This study aimed to characterize the transcriptomic landscape of NK cell-associated genes (NAGs) and explore their associations with clinical outcomes and therapeutic responses in HCC. Using transcriptomic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we identified key NAGs through comprehensive statistical analyses. Patients were stratified into distinct risk groups based on NAG expression profiles. Low-risk patients demonstrated better survival, higher immune infiltration, and greater predicted sensitivity to immunotherapy, whereas high-risk patients were associated with reduced chemotherapy responsiveness. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the immunogenomic features of HCC and provide a basis for developing personalized therapeutic approaches centered on NK cell-related mechanisms.