SPINK1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: To further evaluate the association between SPINK1 and TIME, laying the possible foundation to predict the efficacy of ICB therapy in HCC patients, we analyzed a few important parameters from different angles using ESTIMATE software: the “immune score” (proportion of immune cells), “stromal score” (proportion of stromal cells), “ESTIMATE score” (proportions of immune cells plus stromal cells), and “tumor purity” (proportions of tumor cells/the total) of the tumor specimens (40) (Figures 8E–H).