The stem cells and cancer stem cells in the progression of liver disease

Project Description:

A recent theory of cancer development propose that there is a small population of the stem cells in the cancer with capacity to initiate and maintain tumor growth. These cells play main role in the development of cancer and have a close association with treatment failure and metastasis. However until now, there is no definite agreement of specific CSCs markers for liver cancer due to wide risk factors, cancer types, and prognostic groups. The main focus of our group is to explore the significance of the stem cells and cancer stem cells in human liver cancer development, from early liver injury, liver cirrhosis, to HCC.

Together with the Clinica delle Patologie Fegato, Ospedale Cattinara Trieste, we analyze the presence of stem cells in in vitro cellular model of HCC and we isolate a population of cells directly in human tissues samples by performing primary cultures, immunostaining, and gene expression. In deeper, to study the prolong injury of liver disease, we utilize a colony of HBV-transgenic mouse model that mimics the natural course of liver damage in human. In parallel, we investigate the mechanism of multidrug resistance in the scope of the cancer stem cells theory.

Scientists involved:

Caecilia Sukowati, PhD (Scientific Coordinator)

Beatrice Anfuso, PhD student

Susan Irawati Ie ,Fellow from July 2013 to December 2013

Korri Elvanita El Khobar, Fellow from July 2012 to December 2012

Lory Crocè, MD

Claudio Tiribelli, MD, PhD- FIF Scientific Director

 

Period: 2008 - to date

 

Funding Source:

Fondazione Italiana Fegato in house grant

Fondazione Aldo Duca (Fellowship Sukowati 2013-2014);

AISF (Fellowship Anfuso 2014).

Università degli Studi di Trieste, Scuola di dottorato in Biomedicina Molecolare ( Part of PhD Fellowship Anfuso 2010-2013);

Fondazione Umberto Veronesi (Fellowship Sukowati 2012)

Ministero Affari Esteri (MAE) (PhD Fellowship Sukowati 2008 - 2011, Fellowship Ie 2013, Fellowship El Khobar 2012);

Collaborations:

 

Ospedale pediatrico Bambin Gesù, Roma, Italy;

Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Indonesia;

Universidad Austral, Buenos Aires, Argentina;

University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Publications:

 

  1. Sukowati CHC, Tiribelli C. The biological implication of the cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma: a possible target for future therapy. Expert Review Gastroenterology Hepatology. 2013 7(8): 749-757
  2. Sukowati CHC, Anfuso B, Torre G, Francalanci P, Crocè LS, Tiribelli C. The expression of CD90/Thy-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma: an in vivo and in vitro study. PLoS ONE. 2013. pone.0076830
  3. Sukowati CHC, Rosso N, Pascut D, Anfuso B, Torre G, Francalanci P, Tiribelli C. Gene and functional up-regulation of the breast cancer resistance protein BCRP/ABCG2 transporter in human hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Gastroenterology 2012; 12:160
  4. Sukowati CHC, Rosso N, Crocè LS, Tiribelli C. Hepatic cancer stem cells and drug resistance: relevance in targeted therapies of hepatocellular carcinoma. World Journal of Hepatology 2010; 3: 114-126

 

Conference abstracts:

 

  1. Anfuso B, El Khobar KE, Sukowati CHC, Tiribelli C. Cancer stem cell markers analysis in a HBV-transgenic HCC mouse model. Hepatology International 2013; (7) S1: S580
  2. Anfuso   B,   El   Khobar   KE,   Sukowati   CHC,   Tiribelli   C.   Stem   cells   compartment   activation   during hepatocarcinogenesis  in  a  HBV-transgenic  mouse  model.  Journal  of  Hepatology.  2013;  58  (S1):  S423-S424
  3. Sukowati CHC, Anfuso B, Crocè L, Tiribelli C. The plasticity of the stem cells in the hepatocarcinogenesis and metastasis: study in vitro and in vivo. Hepatology 2012; 56 (S4) 804A-805A
  4. Sukowati CHC, Anfuso B, Crocè L, Tiribelli C. Stem cells in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma: identification and expression. Hepatology 2011; 54 (S1); 963A

Poster and Oral Presentations:

 

  1. Anfuso B, Sukowati CHC, Tiribelli C. Stem cell markers during hepatocarcinogenesis in a HBV-transgenic mouse model. International HCC conference. Heidelberg, Germany. 2012 (Oral and Poster Presentation)
  2. Sukowati CHC, Tiribelli C. Targeted therapy of the cancer stem cell: a future approach for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Science and Stem Cell Research Meeting. Philadelphia, USA. 2011 (Poster Presentation)
  3. Anfuso B, Sukowati CHC, Crocè L, Tiribelli C. The significance of the CD90 (Thy-1) expression in human primary liver cancer. 2011 International Conference on Molecular Clinical Oncology. Turin, Italy. 2011 (Poster Presentation)
  4. Sukowati CHC, Anfuso B, Crocè L, Tiribelli C. The identification of cancer stem cells from human primary liver cancer. Keystone Symposia: Cancer Stem Cells and Metastasis. Colorado, USA. 2011 (Poster Presentation)
  5. Sukowati CHC, Anfuso B, Tiribelli B. Cancer stem cells and drug resistance: The BCRP expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma. International Scientific Symposium: stem cells in biology and disease. Lisbon, Portugal. 2010 (Poster Presentation)

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