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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2014; 20(15): 4128-4140
Published online Apr 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i15.4128
Published online Apr 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i15.4128
Role of the tissue microenvironment as a therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma
Bhavna Rani, Yuan Cao, Gianluigi Giannelli, Department of Medical Biosciences and Human Oncology, Padiglione Semeiotica Medica, 70124 Bari, Italy
Andrea Malfettone, Isabel Fabregat, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Isabel Fabregat, Department of Physiological Sciences II, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Ciprian Tomuleasa, Department of Hematology, Center for Genomics and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj Napoca, Romania
Author contributions: Rani B, Cao Y, Malfettone A and Tomuleasa C reviewed the literature; Fabregat I contributed to the work; Giannelli G organized the manuscript.
Supported by EU-Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN), FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN 2012, Grant Agreement No. 316549
Correspondence to: Gianluigi Giannelli, MD, Department of Medical Biosciences and Human Oncology, Padiglione Semeiotica Medica, Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. gianluigi.giannelli@uniba.it
Telephone: +39-080-5478233 Fax: +39-080-5478234
Received: October 6, 2013
Revised: January 11, 2014
Accepted: February 16, 2014
Published online: April 21, 2014
Revised: January 11, 2014
Accepted: February 16, 2014
Published online: April 21, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: We discuss a new hypothesis for therapeutic approaches in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This novel idea is to regard the entire liver as responsible for the onset, growth and progression of HCC. In this scenario, we focus on the tissue microenvironment components as an ideal target for systemic therapies, taking into account the tumor/host interactions.