Impairment of CD4+ cytotoxic T cells predicts poor survival and high recurrence rates in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

The progressive deficit in CD4(+) CTLs induced by increased FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells was correlated with poor survival and high recurrence rates in HCC patients. These data suggest that CD4(+) CTLs may represent both a potential prognostic marker and a therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.