Abstract: Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are ectopic aggregates of lymphocytes that formed in the context of autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, or within the tumor microenvironment, where they play a crucial role in the anti⁃tumor immune response. In recent years, the positive promotional effects of TLS in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and solid other malignancies have become increasingly apparent,  establishing TLS as a new research focus. This article aims to elaborate the characteristics, formation mechanism, distribution patterns in HCC, and prognostic implications of TLS. Additionally, it investigates the potential applications of TLS in the immunotherapy of HCC and conducts a comparative analysis of TLS effects across other solid tumors, providing novel insights and references for tumor immunotherapy, especially HCC immunotherapy.

Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Tertiary lymphoid structures, Tumor microenvironment, Immunotherapy