3-D culture cell lines mimic tumor in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the main subtypes of primary liver cancer, which accounts for 75-85% of all cases [1]. Despite increasing availability of treatments for liver cancer, HCC clinical trials are not promising since most HCC patients are in an advanced stage of HCC at the time of diagnosis. Additionally, highly metastatic and recurrent phenotype aggravate poor prognosis of liver cancer [2]. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore the underlying molecular mechanism in HCC progression.