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Review
. 2023 Jan-Dec:22:15330338231163677.
doi: 10.1177/15330338231163677.

Cancer Stem Cell and Hepatic Stellate Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Adriana G Quiroz Reyes  1 , Sonia A Lozano Sepulveda  1 , Natalia Martinez-Acuña  1 , Jose F Islas  1 , Paulina Delgado Gonzalez  1 , Tania Guadalupe Heredia Torres  1 , Jorge Roacho Perez  1 , Elsa N Garza Treviño  1
Affiliations
Review

Cancer Stem Cell and Hepatic Stellate Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Adriana G Quiroz Reyes et al. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2023 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer. It is highly lethal and has high recurrence. Death among HCC patients occur mainly due to tumor progression, recurrence, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are cell subpopulations within the tumor that promote invasion, recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are important components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) responsible for primary secretory ECM proteins during liver injury and inflammation. These cells promote fibrogenesis, infiltrate the tumor stroma, and contribute to HCC development. Interactions between HSC and CSC and their microenvironment help promote carcinogenesis through different mechanisms. This review summarizes the roles of CSCs and HSCs in establishing the TME in primary liver tumors and describes their involvement in HCC chemoresistance.

Keywords: cancer stem cells; chemoresistance; hepatic stellate cells; hepatocellular carcinoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the manuscript, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The main components of the tumor microenvironment can activate HSC in HCC. TME-induced signals leading to HSC activation can promote the state of fibrosis and trigger tumor progression.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
A schematic relationship between HSC and LCSC. Factors released by activated HSC promote the maintenance or proliferation and invasion of LCSC in HCC.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Activated HSCs improve multidrug resistance mechanisms. HSCs can improve CSC chemoresistance by secretion of factors, activation of molecular pathways, and metabolic changes in tumor cells.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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