Our findings align with previous studies reporting JUNB overexpression in PBMCs of HCC patients, where it correlated with poor prognosis and reduced survival.46, 47 Its high expression in PBMCs has been linked to immune evasion mechanisms by modulating the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) and impairing NK cell function through interactions with immune-related genes like ANXA2 and S100A443, 46, 47. This evidence concerns the gene ANXA2 and hepatocellular carcinoma.