Role of the microenvironment in the pathogenesis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumor and the third greatest cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and its incidence is increasing. Despite the significant improvement in management of HCC over the past 30 years, there are no effective chemoprevention strategies, and only one systemic therapy has been approved for patients with advanced tumors. This drug, sorafenib, acts on tumor cells and the stroma. HCC develops from chronically damaged tissue that contains large amounts of inflammation and fibrosis, which also promote tumor progression and resistance to therapy. Increasing our understanding of how stromal components interact with cancer cells and the signaling pathways involved could help identify new therapeutic and chemopreventive targets.

• Authors: Virginia Hernandez-Gea, Sara Toffanin, Scott L Friedman, Josep M Llovet
• Journal: Gastroenterology (Gastroenterology) Vol. 144 Issue 3 Pg. 512-27 (Mar 2013) ISSN: 1528-0012 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23313965 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (drug therapy, etiology, pathology)
• Hepatitis (complications, metabolism, pathology)
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis (complications, metabolism, pathology)
• Liver Neoplasms (drug therapy, etiology, pathology)
• Neovascularization, Pathologic (pathology)
• Stromal Cells (drug effects, pathology)
• Tumor Microenvironment