Bile acid (BA) metabolism plays an important role in the progression of liver cancer; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Hepatic afadin (AF6) is involved in primary BA synthesis, but its role in shaping the tumor microenvironment and immune responses in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. We hypothesized that an axis involving primary BAs, butyric acid, and CXCL14 contributes to immune regulation in HCC and may inform the development of improved therapeutic strategies.
Journal of Hepatology published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 21 Jan 2026.
The item focuses on AF6 knockout-induced upregulation of bile acid production promotes CXCL14-mediated antitumor immunity in HCC.
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