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. 2025 Jul 25;15(16):8222–8258. doi: 10.7150/thno.116951

Table 2.

LILRB expression and function in human malignancies.

Cancer types LILRBs Expression* Clinical features Survival (Prognosis) Cellular roles References
Hematological malignancies
AML LILRB1 Upregulated OS (Poor) 210
LILRB2 Upregulated OS (Poor) Support HSC expansion 72, 210, 211, 212, 293
LILRB3 Upregulated OS (Poor) Enhance tumor cell survival, inhibit T cell activity 198, 210, 212, 233
LILRB4 Upregulated OS (Poor) Support tumor cell infiltration and suppress T cell activity 22, 210, 212
LILRB5 NS OS (Favorable) 97, 212
CMML LILRB4 Upregulated 213
MM LILRB1 (a) Downregulated;
(b) Upregulated
Cytogenetic abnormality t(4;14) translocation OS (Poor) Increase susceptibility to T/NK-mediated killing;
Regulate cholesterol metabolism and protect tumor cells from ferroptosis
214, 297
LILRB2 Downregulated 214
LILRB3 Downregulated 214
LILRB4 (a) NS;
(b) Upregulated
Bone damage OS (Poor) Support tumor cell proliferation;
Promote osteolytic lesions
116, 214, 215, 232, 299
LILRB5 NS 214
CLL LILRB1 Downregulated 216
LILRB2 54.5% expression 300
LILRB4 48.9% expression Lymphoid tissue involvement Regulate tumor progression 300, 301
ALL LILRB2 Downregulated 302
KMT2A-rearranged ALL LILRB4 Upregulated 217
ATL LILRB4 Inhibit tumor cell growth 89
CTCL LILRB1 100% expression Inhibit tumor cell proliferation 303, 304, 305
cHL LILRB2 Upregulated OS (Poor) 309
Digestive system
EC LILRB1 Upregulated 221
LILRB2 Upregulated Tumor stage 312
HCC LILRB1 Downregulated TILs RFS/PFS (Favorable) 313
LILRB2 (a) Upregulated;(b) Downregulated Gender, tumor size, cell differentiation, TILs (a) OS (Poor);
(b) OS/RFS/PFS/DFS (Favorable)
Promote macrophage polarization to M2 phenotype and recruit immunosuppressive T cells 196, 313, 314
LILRB3 Downregulated TILs RFS/PFS (Favorable) 313
LILRB4 Upregulated TILs RFS/PFS (Favorable) 313
LILRB5 Downregulated TILs OS/RFS/PFS/DFS (Favorable) 313
GC LILRB1 Upregulated Pathological stage, cell differentiation, tumor size OS (Poor) Inhibit the anti-tumor effect of NK cells 205, 219, 220
LILRB2 Upregulated 317
LILRB4 Upregulated 220
PDAC LILRB1 Upregulated;
Downregulated
Pathological stage OS (Poor) 219, 321
LILRB2 Upregulated;
Downregulated
Sustain EMT and the early metastatic behavior of tumor cells 319, 321
LILRB3 Downregulated 321
LILRB4 Downregulated OS/RFS (Favorable) 321
CRC LILRB1 Upregulated OS (Poor) 219
LILRB2 Upregulated Gender, cell differentiation, vascular involvement, LN metastasis, tumor stage OS (Poor) Regulate tumor cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis 218, 231, 322, 323
LILRB3 Upregulated LN metastasis, tumor stage OS/PFS (Poor) Inhibit T-cell infiltration and promote M2-like TAM accumulation 324
LILRB4 Upregulated LN metastasis, tumor stage, CD45RO+ T cell count OS (Poor) 325
Respiratory system
NSCLC LILRB1 51.5% expression Tumor stage 107
LILRB2 Upregulated Cell differentiation, LN metastasis, tumor stage, age, TILs OS/PFS (Poor) Promote tumor growth, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis;
Recruit M2-like TAMs and impair T cell response;
Enhance resistance to radiation
197, 199, 222, 223, 224, 327, 328, 329
LILRB4 Upregulated Cell differentiation, tumor size, vascular involvement, tumor stage OS (Poor) Enhance tumor cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis 230
Reproductive system
BC LILRB1 Upregulated Pathological stage OS (Poor) 219
LILRB2 Upregulated TILs, LN metastasis OS/PFS (Poor) Promote immune evasion;
Promote tumor growth, and induce effector T cell senescence; Reprogram toward aerobic glycolysis
195, 229, 336, 337
OC LILRB1 Upregulated Age, tumor stage 225
Endometrial cancer LILRB2 Upregulated OS (Poor) Support tumor cell expansion and migration 228
Urinary system
ccRCC LILRB1 60% expression 227
LILRB2 60% expression 227
LILRB3 Upregulated OS (Poor) 344
Nervous system
Glioma LILRB1 Upregulated Tumor size OS (Poor) Enhance tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion 118
Glioblastoma LILRB1 Upregulated 349
LILRB2 Upregulated Pathological stage OS/DFS (Poor) Induce MDSC formation and expansion 349, 350
LILRB3 Upregulated 349
LILRB4 Upregulated 349
Cutaneous tumors
Melanoma LILRB2 Upregulated Promote tumor growth;
Induce effector T cell senescence
229
Tumors of other system
OSCC LILRB1 Downregulated 352
TC LILRB1 Upregulated Pathological stage OS (Poor) 219

ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia; AML, acute myeloid leukemia; ATL, acute T cell leukemia; BC, breast cancer; ccRCC, clear cell renal cell carcinoma; cHL, classical Hodgkin lymphoma; CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia; CMML, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia; CRC, colorectal cancer; CTCL, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; DFS, disease-free survival; EC, esophageal carcinoma; EMT, epithelial-mesenchymal transition; GC, gastric cancer; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HSC, hematopoietic stem cell; LN, lymph node; MDS, myelodysplastic syndrome; MDSC, myeloid-derived suppressor cell; MM, multiple myeloma; NS, no significance; NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer; OC, ovarian cancer; OS, overall survival; OSCC, oral squamous cell carcinoma; PDAC, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; PFS, progression-free survival; RFS, recurrence-free survival; TAMs, tumor-associated macrophages; TC, thyroid cancer; TILs, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes; VEGF-C, vascular endothelial growth factor C.

*Compare the expression levels of LILRBs between tumor cells and normal cells.