Cancer Stem Cells and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 in Liver Cancers

Abstract

The cancer stem cell (CSC) theory posits that a small population of cells with stem celllike features is responsible for tumor growth, resistance, and recurrence in many malignancies. This theory could be a useful paradigm for designing innovative targeted drug therapies. Liver cancer is the ifth most common cancer worldwide, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) as the predominant forms. Hepatic stem/progenitor cells are believed to be the origin of HCCs and CCAs; however, this remains a controversial topic. Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is the main enzymatic system responsible for the clearance of acetaldehyde from the hepatocytes in the liver tissue. Therefore, ALDH1 has been suggested to be a potential, biological and CSC marker in liver cancers. We here provide an overview of the current state of knowledge of CSCs in liver and the role of ALDH1 in the development and progression of liver cancers and discuss its potential value as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker.

Perindopril sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to chemotherapy: A possible role of leptin / Wnt/ β-catenin axis with subsequent inhibition of liver cancer stem cells

“…For further confirmation of the correlation between perindopril and LCSCs, we investigated the expression of EpCAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule) a marker of liver cancer stem cell ( Yamashita et al, 2009 ), and ALDH1, the enzyme that has been linked to stem cell and cancer stem cell population Tomita et al, 2017 . Our results revealed that ALDH1 expression was induced by perindopril or sorafenib.…”

Liver Cancer Stem Cells

“…ALDH is the main enzymatic system responsible for the clearance of acetaldehyde from the hepatocytes in the liver tissue. It is involved in retinoic acid signaling pathway known as differentiation of the hepatocytes (Tomita et al 2017). ALDH1-expressing cells may serve as a useful differentiation biological marker for hepatocellular carcinoma rather than as a CSC marker.…”