Notch activity determines a common hepatocellular carcinoma subtype with unique molecular and clinicopathologic features [L-NICD]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant primary liver cancer and an increasing cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, due in part through increased obesity-associated nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and associated fibrosis. The Notch signaling pathway is inappropriately “reactivated” in hepatocytes in obesity and plays an active role in the pathogenesis of NASH-associated fibrosis. We aimed to understand the involvement of Notch in the pathogenesis of mouse and human HCC. Overall design: 6 samples of mouse liver tissues (surrounding non-tumor livers and tumors) from 3 different NASH diet-fed Notch-overexrepssed mice (L-NICD) were analyzed.