Liver tumor-initiating cells as a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma

Cancer Lett. 2013 Sep 10;338(1):101-9. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2012.05.001. Epub 2012 May 8.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy worldwide and has poor prognosis. Existing treatment modalities, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiofrequency ablation, which target tumor bulk, have demonstrated limited therapeutic efficacy. In the past 10years, accumulating evidence has supported the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor initiating cells (T-ICs) within tumors including HCC. Identification of liver T-ICs and the signaling pathways that they are involved in may shed light on novel therapeutic strategies against this deadly disease. In this review, we will discuss recent progresses made in the research of liver T-ICs with regard to identification, functional characterization, regulation and therapeutic implications.

Keywords: ALDH; CSCs; Chemoresistance; EpCAM; GEP; HCC; HIF-1α; HNF-4α; OSM; PTEN; ROS; SP; Self-renewal; T-IC; TGF-β; Tumor-initiating cells; Tumorigenicity; aldehyde dehydrogenase; cancer stem cells; epithelial cell adhesion molecule; granulin–epithelin precursor; hepatocellular carcinoma; hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α; hypoxia-inducible factor-1α; oncostatin; phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10; reactive oxygen species; side population; transforming growth factor beta; tumor-initiating cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Models, Genetic
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor