Cancer Stem Cell Functions in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Comprehensive Therapeutic Strategies

Cells

Yu-Chin Liu¹  Kwang-Huei Lin¹  Chau-Ting Yeh² 

[1] Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;

关键词: hepatocellular carcinoma;    liver cancer stem cells;    stemness;    self-renewal;    tumorigenicity;    therapeutic resistance;   

DOI  :  10.3390/cells9061331

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant cause of cancer-related mortality owing to resistance to traditional treatments and tumor recurrence after therapy, which leads to poor therapeutic outcomes. Cancer stem cells (CSC) are a small subset of tumor cells with the capability to influence self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. A number of surface markers for liver cancer stem cell (LCSC) subpopulations (EpCAM, CD133, CD44, CD13, CD90, OV-6, CD47, and side populations) in HCC have been identified. LCSCs play critical roles in regulating HCC stemness, self-renewal, tumorigenicity, metastasis, recurrence, and therapeutic resistance via genetic mutations, epigenetic disruption, signaling pathway dysregulation, or alterations microenvironment. Accumulating studies have shown that biomarkers for LCSCs contribute to diagnosis and prognosis prediction of HCC, supporting their utility in clinical management and development of therapeutic strategies. Preclinical and clinical analyses of therapeutic approaches for HCC using small molecule inhibitors, oncolytic measles viruses, and anti-surface marker antibodies have demonstrated selective, efficient, and safe targeting of LCSC populations. The current review focuses on recent reports on the influence of LCSCs on HCC stemness, tumorigenesis, and multiple drug resistance (MDR), along with LCSC-targeted therapeutic strategies for HCC.

【 授权许可】

Unknown