Fig. 4: γδ T-cell counts in HCC are associated with tumour size and patient survival.

(a–d) Immunohistochemistry staining of paired background liver and tumour tissue obtained from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing surgical resection. Cell counts performed from five randomly selected high-power fields (x20 objective magnification) per sample (n = 28 paired samples). a Representative multispectral analysis with non-γδ CD3⁺ (green) and γδ⁺ (red) T-cells as pseudo-colourised images in liver and HCC tumoural tissue, replicated across five high-power (x20) fields per sample. b Absolute γδ T-cell and non-γδ CD3⁺ T-cell numbers (calculated per mm²) and γδ/CD3⁺ T-cell ratio in paired liver and HCC tumours (n = 28 paired samples; p < 0.0001, p = 0.0006). c Intratumoural γδ T-cell counts and non-γδ CD3⁺ T-cell counts (per mm²) in small HCC tumours with a maximum diameter of ≤3 cm compared to HCC tumours >3 cm in diameter (n = 28; p = 0.03). d HCC intratumoural γδ T-cell counts and non-γδ CD3⁺ T-cell counts (per mm²) according to 3-year patient survival outcomes (overall survival data available n = 27, 22/27 survived, 5/27 died; p = 0.048). Kaplan Meier graphs of overall survival (years post resection) split on the median intratumoural γδ T-cell (p = 0.009) or non-γδ CD3⁺ T-cell count from 27 HCC tumours. Two-tailed p-values were determined using Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test test (b) or Mann–Whitney test (c, d), Kaplan Meier graphs with Log-rank test (d). Error bars represent mean ± SEM. ns Not significant; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001.