Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a global healthcare challenge, which affects more than 815,000 new cases every year. Activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) remain the principal cells that drive HCC onset and growth. aHSCs suppress the anti-tumor immune response through interaction with different immune cells. They also increase the deposition of the extracellular matrix proteins, challenging the reversion of fibrosis and increasing HCC growth and metastasis. Therapy for HCC was reported to activate HSCs, which could explain the low efficacy of current treatments. Conversely, recent studies aimed at the deactivation of HSCs show that they have been able to inhibit HCC growth. In this review article, we discuss the role of aHSCs in HCC pathophysiology and therapy. Finally, we provide suggestions for the experimental implementation of HSCs in HCC therapies.

Department of Cancer Epidemiology German Cancer Research Center Im Neuenheimer Feld 280 69120 Heidelberg Germany

Department of Surgery University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University Alej Svobody 80 32300 Pilsen Czech Republic

Laboratory of Cancer Treatment and Tissue Regeneration Biomedical Center Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University Alej Svobody 1665 76 32300 Pilsen Czech Republic

Laboratory of Translational Cancer Genomics Biomedical Center Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University Alej Svobody 1665 76 32300 Pilsen Czech Republic

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