Stem cell therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma and end-stage liver disease

J Egypt Natl Canc Inst. 2023 Nov 6;35(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s43046-023-00194-z.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem worldwide, especially for patients who are suffering from end-stage liver disease (ESLD). The ESLD is considered a great challenge for clinicians due to the limited chance for liver transplantation, which is the only curative treatment for those patients. Stem cell-based therapy as a part of regenerative medicine represents a promising application for ESLD patients. Many clinical trials were performed to assess the utility of bone marrow-derived stem cells as a potential therapy for patients with liver diseases. The aim of the present study is to present and review the various types of stem cell-based therapy, including the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), BM-derived mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs), CD34 + hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and cancer stem cells.Though this type of therapy achieved promising results for the treatment of ESLD, however still there is a confounding data regarding its clinical application. A large body of evidence is highly required to evaluate the stem cell-based therapy after long-term follow-up, with respect to the incidence of toxicity, immunogenicity, and tumorigenesis that developed in many patients.

Keywords: HCC; Liver; MSCs; Stem cell and end stage.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / therapy
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
  • End Stage Liver Disease* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells*