Tamer Yagci1, Metin Cetin2, Pelin Balcik Ercin2. 1. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Gebze Technical University, 41400, Cayirova, Kocaeli, Turkey. tyagci@gtu.edu.tr. 2. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Gebze Technical University, 41400, Cayirova, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Only a small proportion of patients benefit from curative treatment and the prognosis is very poor for the majority of cases due to late presentation, resistance to chemotherapy and high recurrence rate. In recent years, progress in stem cell biology allowed us to explain that hierarchically organized cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive histological and functional heterogeneity of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. METHODS AND RESULTS: Also referred to as tumor-initiating cells, CSCs have been isolated from both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and primary tumors by using hepatic progenitor markers. Although there is still no consensus on cancer stem cell phenotype in HCC, single or combined use of CSC markers defines a minor population of tumor cells with the capacity of self-renewing and the ability to recapitulate the original tumor heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: This review focuses on the biological features of CSCs and their potential as diagnostic/prognostic tools and therapeutic targets in HCC.
BACKGROUND:Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Only a small proportion of patients benefit from curative treatment and the prognosis is very poor for the majority of cases due to late presentation, resistance to chemotherapy and high recurrence rate. In recent years, progress in stem cell biology allowed us to explain that hierarchically organized cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive histological and functional heterogeneity of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. METHODS AND RESULTS: Also referred to as tumor-initiating cells, CSCs have been isolated from both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and primary tumors by using hepatic progenitor markers. Although there is still no consensus on cancer stem cell phenotype in HCC, single or combined use of CSC markers defines a minor population of tumor cells with the capacity of self-renewing and the ability to recapitulate the original tumor heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: This review focuses on the biological features of CSCs and their potential as diagnostic/prognostic tools and therapeutic targets in HCC.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer stem cell markers; Cancer stem cells; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Metastasis; Tumor heterogeneity; Tumor recurrence
Authors: Gerritje J W van der Windt; Marcel Schouten; Sacha Zeerleder; Sandrine Florquin; Tom van der Poll Journal: Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol Date: 2010-05-12 Impact factor: 6.914
Authors: Chenwei Li; David G Heidt; Piero Dalerba; Charles F Burant; Lanjing Zhang; Volkan Adsay; Max Wicha; Michael F Clarke; Diane M Simeone Journal: Cancer Res Date: 2007-02-01 Impact factor: 12.701
Authors: Yi Tang; Krit Kitisin; Wilma Jogunoori; Cuiling Li; Chu-Xia Deng; Susette C Mueller; Habtom W Ressom; Asif Rashid; Aiwu Ruth He; Jonathan S Mendelson; John M Jessup; Kirti Shetty; Michael Zasloff; Bibhuti Mishra; E P Reddy; Lynt Johnson; Lopa Mishra Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2008-02-08 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Piero Dalerba; Scott J Dylla; In-Kyung Park; Rui Liu; Xinhao Wang; Robert W Cho; Timothy Hoey; Austin Gurney; Emina H Huang; Diane M Simeone; Andrew A Shelton; Giorgio Parmiani; Chiara Castelli; Michael F Clarke Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2007-06-04 Impact factor: 11.205