Publication Name	World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
Manuscript ID	120101
Country	Australia

Category	Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Manuscript Type	Editorial
Article Title	CD161-lectin-like transcript 1 axis beyond programmed cell death protein 1 in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Hai Nguyen Ngoc Dang, Hau Phuc Tran, Hung Minh Vu, Trung Tran Nguyen, Bich Ngoc Hoang Thi, Thanh Van Ho, Adegbesan Abiodun Christopher, Hung Tran Xuan and Thang Viet Luong
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Thang Viet Luong, Lecturer, MD, Researcher, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Level 1, Medical Science 1/17 Liverpool Street, Hobart 7000, Tasmania, Australia. vietthang.luong@utas.edu.au
Key Words	CD161; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Hepatitis B virus; Immune resistance; T-cell exhaustion; Programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 resistance
Core Tip	In hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma, CD161+CD8+ T cells are enriched in tumor tissue and may persist despite programmed death-1 blockade, suggesting that immune inhibition is not fully explained by the programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 axis alone. These observations raise the possibility that the CD161-lectin-like transcript 1 pathway represents a complementary mechanism of adaptive immune resistance. This editorial highlights the importance of protein-level CD161 assessment and discusses the translational relevance of this axis as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for future investigation.
Citation	Nguyen Ngoc Dang H, Phuc Tran H, Minh Vu H, Tran Nguyen T, Hoang Thi BN, Van Ho T, Abiodun Christopher A, Tran Xuan H, Viet Luong T. CD161-lectin-like transcript 1 axis beyond programmed cell death protein 1 in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; In press

Received	2026-02-24 08:27
Peer-Review Started	2026-02-24 08:28
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-03-13 08:08
Return for Revision	2026-03-13 08:08
Revised	2026-03-27 12:17
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-04-17 02:39
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-04-17 05:08
Articles in Press	2026-04-17 05:08
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-5204 (online)
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