Tumor-infiltrating CD11BCD33HLA-DR MDSCs in HCC patients can effectively inhibit autologous CD8T cell proliferation. Concordant overexpression of CCRK and MDSC markers (CD11b/CD33) was positively associated with poorer survival. Hepatocyte CCRK stimulated the immunosuppressive CD11BCD33HLA-DR MDSC amplification of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by up-regulating IL-6. Here, CD33 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.