title: Liver cancer stem cells: implications for a new therapeutic target.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive tumour with a poor prognosis. Current therapeutic strategies against this disease target mostly rapidly growing differentiated tumour cells. However, the result is often dismal due to the chemoresistant nature of this tumour type. Recent research efforts on stem cells and cancer biology have shed light on new directions for the eradication of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in HCC. The liver is a distinctive organ with the ability of tissue renewal in response to injury. Based on the hypothesis that cancer development is derived from the hierarchy of the stem cell system, we will briefly discuss the origin of liver stem cells and its relation to HCC development. We will also summarize the current CSC markers in HCC and discuss their relevance to the treatment of this deadly disease.
authors.affiliation: Liver Cancer and Hepatitis Research Laboratory and S. H. Ho Foundation Research Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Terence Kin Wah
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castilho
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Irene Oi Lin
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015195:Drug Design; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor