Activation of hepatic stem-like cells in the tumor microenvironment is a critical determinant of the prognosis of HCC patients

Background: HCCs commonly develop in chronically damaged liver tissues. The resulting regenerative and inflammatory processes create an adverse microenvironment that promotes tumor-initiation and progression. Expansion of cancer stem cells is commonly observed during this process. This putative cancer stem cell origin provides a plausible explanation for the observed phenotypic heterogeneity of hepatocellular cancers. However, despite profound therapeutic implications the prognostic relevance of CSCs and their cellular localization within the tumor formation remain controversial. Methods: Expression levels and l…