Significance of CD90 + Cancer Stem Cells in Human Liver Cancer

This study characterized cancer stem cells (CSCs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, tumor specimens, and blood samples. The CD90 + cells, but not the CD90 − cells, from HCC cell lines displayed tumorigenic capacity. All the tumor specimens and 91.6% of blood samples from liver cancer patients bore the CD45 −CD90 + population, which could generate tumor nodules in immunodeficient mice. The CD90 +CD44 + cells demonstrated a more aggressive phenotype than the CD90 +CD44 − counterpart and formed metastatic lesions in the lung of immunodeficient mice. CD44 blockade prevented the formation of local and metastatic tumor nodules by the CD90 + cells. Differential gene expression profiles were identified in the CD45 −CD90 + and CD45 −CD90 − cells isolated from tissue and blood samples from liver cancer patients and controls.