Fig. 1

Representative image of CD133 and PD-L1 detection in different stages in HCC patients. A HE images and corresponding CD133 expression in primary tumour tissue in liver cancer patients and lung metastases. B The percentage of CD133 expression in primary tumours in early (stage I) and advanced stages (stage II and III) and metastases in the lung. C Kaplan–Meier curve depicting survival analyses in stage II and III male patients. The P value was calculated by the log-rank test. D Representative image of PD-L1 expression at different stages and in lung metastases of HCC patients. E The PD-L1 expression at different stages and in lung metastases of HCC patients were evaluated using the CPS score method and compared. Mean ± SD, n = 19, two-tailed unpaired Student’s t test, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001, ns, not significant