Single-cell analysis reveals cancer stem cell heterogeneity in hepatocellular carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Intratumor molecular heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma is partly attributed to the presence of hepatic cancer stem cells (CSCs). Different CSC populations defined by various cell surface markers may contain different oncogenic drivers, posing a challenge in defining molecularly targeted therapeutics. We combined transcriptomic and functional analyses of hepatocellular carcinoma cells at the single-cell level to assess the degree of CSC heterogeneity. We provide evidence that hepatic CSCs at the single-cell level are phenotypically, functionally, and transcriptomically heterogeneous. We found that different CSC subpopulations contain distinct molecular signatures. Interestingly, distinct genes within different CSC subpopulations are independently associated with hepatocellular carci

SUBMITTER: Zheng H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6033650 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature