The Role of Stem Cells in the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Despite the significant advances in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the results are still far from satisfactory. One of the reasons for this is the need to identify the mechanisms involved in the molecular pathogenesis of HCC, so as to be able to provide patient-targeted therapies. The difficulty in this endeavor lies in the multitude of pathways involved and the challenge of finding out how each one of them fits into the larger picture.

As is the case in several different organs, stem cells appear to have a critical role in the evolution of the liver and its neoplasms, as well as in key aspects of hepatic regeneration and response to various injury mechanisms. The goal of this chapter is to present basic principles of stem cells and identify pathways involved in the development of stem cells, which can at the same time affect the evolution and diagnosis of HCC. Finally, therapeutic strategies involving stem cells will be presented, in an effort to identify future challenges.

Keywords: Bioartificial liver support system, Cancer stem cell, Cirrhosis, Complication, Epigenetic changes, Hepatic resection, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Hepatocytes, Immature cells, Immune rejection, Liver failure, Liver fibrosis, Liver progenitor cells, Multipotent cells, Orthotopic liver transplantation, Regeneration, Signaling pathways, Stem cells, Targeted therapy, Tissue engineering, Tolerance, Treatment, Tumor angiogenesis.