Intratumoral heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma: From single-cell to population-based studies

Figure 1 The cancer stem cell model and intratumoral heterogeneity. The cancer stem cell (CSC) model assumes that only CSCs possess robust self-renewal characteristics and the ability to differentiate. Different stimuli of CSCs induce distinct functional phenotypes to adapt to certain environmental stresses. Non-CSCs can spontaneously convert to a stem-like state and establish a new hierarchical CSC clone under certain circumstances. Consequently, the extent of ITH in hepatocellular carcinoma increase gradually. CSC: Cancer stem cell.