title: The evolving concept of liver cancer stem cells.
abstract: Liver cancer is an often fatal malignant tumor with a high recurrence rate and chemoresistance. The major malignant phenotypes of cancer, including recurrence, metastasis, and chemoresistance, are related to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). In the past few decades, CSCs have been identified and characterized in many tumors including liver cancer. Accumulated evidence has revealed many aspects of the biological behavior of liver CSCs and the mechanism of their regulation. Based on these findings, a number of studies have investigated eradication of liver CSCs. This review focuses on the recent advances in our understanding of the biology of liver CSCs and the development of strategies for their treatment.
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Marsico Hall 5229 M, 125 Mason Farm Rd, 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.|Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takara-Machi, 920-8641, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Kouki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nio
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takara-Machi, 920-8641, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan. taroy@m-kanazawa.jp.
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takara-Machi, 920-8641, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneko
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Cancer stem cell; Chemoresistance; Liver cancer; Niche