PTPRC and hepatocellular carcinoma: Analysis of the HCC microenvironment HCC (tumor, IM, and NTT regions), revealed that the overall leukocyte (CD45) distribution remains relatively stable across healthy, fibrotic and HCC livers (Figures 2B, C), while proliferating leukocyte populations were significantly upregulated only in the tumor region (Figures 2D, E).