Inhibition of Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation Suppresses Tumorigenicity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Mice

Transdifferentiation (or activation) of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to myofibroblasts is a key event in liver fibrosis. Activated HSCs in the tumor microenvironment reportedly promote tumor progression. This study analyzed the effect of an inhibitor of HSC activation, retinol-binding protein-albumin domain III fusion protein (R-III), on protumorigenic functions of HSCs. Although conditioned medium collected from activated HSCs enhanced the...