Thorough analysis of tumor microenvironment, prognostic model, and immunotherapy prediction in hepatocellular carcinoma based on vascular normalization-related genes

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks sixth in incidence and third in mortality worldwide. Immunotherapy for advanced HCC is limited by drug resistance. Vascular normalization (VN) restores tumor neovasculature, alleviates immunosuppression, and enhances immunotherapy. However, roles of VN-related genes (VNRGs) in HCC remain understudied. In this study, bioinformatics methods explored roles and constructed a prognostic model. The VNRGs-high expression group had higher immune infiltration, lower tumor purity and worse outcomes. An eight-VNRG prognostic model was constructed. High-risk patients had poor outcomes but better immunotherapy response. This study highlights VNRGs' significance and shows the risk score function as a prognostic and immune response indicator.