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Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer
Published in: Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer 3/2017

01-09-2017 | Review Article

Cancer Stem Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Authors: Tamer Yagci, Metin Cetin, Pelin Balcik Ercin

Published in: Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer | Issue 3/2017

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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.
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Metadata
Title
Cancer Stem Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors
Tamer Yagci
Metin Cetin
Pelin Balcik Ercin
Publication date
01-09-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer / Issue 3/2017
Print ISSN: 1941-6628
Electronic ISSN: 1941-6636
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-017-9960-7

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