Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

Title abbreviation: Adv Clin Exp Med
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Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

2017, vol. 26, nr 7, October, p. 1137–1141

doi: 10.17219/acem/66343

Publication type: review

Language: English

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Hierarchical potential differentiation of liver cancer stem cells

Wenfeng Zhang1,B,C,D,E, Di Mu2,B,C,D,E, Kai Feng3,A,F

1 Chongqing Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China

2 Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Education of China, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China

3 Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, 3rd Military Medical University, Chongquing, China

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant tumors in Chinese people and offers poor prognosis. Tumor tissue, like normal tissue, is hierarchically differentiated. Thus, minor tumor cell populations able to differentiate, such as stem cells, sustain tumor self-renewal and proliferation. The fact that liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) with different surface markers appear heterogeneous with respect to oncogenesis and drug resistance indicates that subpopulations of surface markers preserve the hierarchical potential of differentiation during proliferation, deterioration and relapse. The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is correlated to tumor malignancy and aggression, and hepatocytes bearing EMT have obvious hierarchical differentiation potential with respect to signaling pathways such as transforming growth factor β, Wnt/β-catenin and microRNA. Therefore, it may be more effective for early diagnosis to monitor HCC recurrence using peripherally circulating CSCs, and these may also offer potential for HCC immunotherapy or for targeting HCC treatment using these markers. Thus, we reviewed the generation, hierarchical differentiation and clinical application of hepatic CSCs.

Key words

tumor heterogeneity, tumorigenesis, liver cancer stem cells, surface molecular markers

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