title: Tetraspanin-enriched microdomains and hepatocellular carcinoma progression.
abstract: As in many tumors, heterogeneity within the cell population is one of the main features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Heterogeneity results from the ability of tumor to produce multiple subpopulations of cells with diverse genetic, biochemical and immunological characteristics. Little is known about how heterogeneity emerges and how it is maintained. Fluctuations in single cells can be masked or completely misrepresented when cell populations are analyzed. It has become exceedingly apparent that the utility of measurement based on the analysis of bulk specimens is limited by intra-tumor genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity, as characteristics of the most abundant cell type might not necessarily predict the properties of cell populations. Yet, such non-uniformities often unveil molecular patterns that can represent mechanisms of tumor progression. Interestingly, variability among single cells in a population may arise from different responses to intrinsic and extrinsic perturbations mainly mediated by the plasma membrane. The association of certain proteins, including tetraspanins, and lipids in specific location on the plasma membrane constitutes specialized structure called tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TEMs). TEMs organization in cancer may reveal essential clues for understanding pathogenic mechanisms underlying cancer progression. Along these lines, TEMs and HCC progression represent a valuable paradigm for gaining a deeper understanding of such mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Bari, Italy; IRCCS "S. de Bellis", National Institute for Digestive Diseases, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzocca
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam Tahmasebi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Birgani
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sabbà
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: vinicio.carloni@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Vinicio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carloni
mesh_terms: D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000378:metabolism*; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / Q000378:metabolism; D059470:Tetraspanins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D059470:Tetraspanins; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); C402182:phosphatidylinositol phosphate 4-kinase
keywords: Cancer heterogeneity; Cancer progression; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Metastasis; Tetraspanins