Roskams T Falk Workshop Inflammation & Cancer

Roskams T (2012) Stem cells and liver cancer. Falk Workshop Inflammation & Cancer: 42

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Roskams T (2012)

Event: Falk Workshop on Inflammation & Cancer, Jan 2012, Hamburg-Eppendorf

According to the cancer stem cell concept, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) consists of a hierarchy of cell populations, of which the very small cancer stem cell population is the one that has the growth and metastatic potential of the tumour. The other neoplastic cells are offspring of the cancer stem cells and each can differentiate a little differently, according to the local microenvironment in each part of the tumor, hence explaining the enormous phenotypic heterogeneity of a neoplasm.

Current therapeutic strategies mostly target rapidly growing differentiated tumour cells. However the results are often unsatisfactory because of the chemoresistance of HCC. New therapies targeting cancer stem cells should therefore be developed. A prerequisite is a good understanding of the mechanisms of activation and differentiation of normal stem/progenitor cells in normal and diseased liver. Hepatocytes and cholangiocytes have stem cell features, but also progenitor cells, located in the smallest branches of the biliary tree. These cells are especially activated in the cirrhotic stage of chronic liver diseases, the stage in which HCC develops. HCC with progenitor cell features, possibly reflecting a progenitor cell origin, have a very bad prognosis and therefore should be recognized and treated accordingly.

• Keywords: liver stem cells, liver progenitor cells, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, chemoresistance, cancer stem cells, side population

Labels: Pathology: Cancer 

Tissue;cell: Liver, Stem cells