title: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are non-hematopoietic multipotent stem cells capable of differentiating into mature cells. Studies in animal models have indicated that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may originate from genetically mutated BMSCs. Moreover, it has been shown that BMSCs are influenced by and can modulate their micro-environment via secreted cytokines that promote tumor initiation, growth, and homing to tumor sites. Based on these features, BMSCs have been recognized as a putative target of molecular therapies to treat and prevent HCC. In this review we discuss the role of human BMSCs in HCC pathogenesis and their therapeutic potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China. doctorgongpeng@yeah.net
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Yingxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhongyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*