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Updated: Oct 21, 2025

In Vitro Cultivation Techniques for Modeling Liver Organogenesis, Building Assembloids, and Designing Synthetic Tissues using Human Cell Lines
Published on: April 18, 2025
Signalling pathways and transcriptional regulators orchestrating liver development and cancer
Stephanie A Campbell1, Tabea L Stephan1,2, Jeremy Lotto1,2
1Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada.
Abstract:
Liver development is controlled by key signals and transcription factors that drive cell proliferation, migration, differentiation and functional maturation. In the adult liver, cell maturity can be perturbed by genetic and environmental factors that disrupt hepatic identity and function. Developmental signals and fetal genetic programmes are often dysregulated or reactivated, leading to dedifferentiation and disease. Here, we highlight signalling pathways and transcriptional regulators that drive liver cell development and primary liver cancers. We also discuss emerging models derived from pluripotent stem cells, 3D organoids and bioengineering for improved studies of signalling pathways in liver cancer and regenerative medicine.
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