Molecular heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma and its precise treatment in clinical practice

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer in China, and high molecular heterogeneity of HCC has caused the limitations in clinical efficacy; therefore, it is of great importance to explore its heterogeneity based on molecular classification and develop individualized diagnosis and treatment strategies. Various high-throughput sequencing techniques and multi-omics techniques in recent years have helped to establish multiple molecular classification systems, which gives us a deeper understanding of the molecular heterogeneity of HCC. This article summarizes the molecular classifications of HCC and discusses their association with clinicopathological features. This article also analyzes the new targets for molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy and proposes new ideas for precise diagnosis and individualized treatment of HCC.