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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

A Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model to Investigate the Tumor-Stromal Interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Published on: September 30, 2021
Targeting amino acid metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma
Yibing Wu1, Carmen Chak-Lui Wong2
1Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Abstract:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains lethal due to its high refractoriness to standard treatment, which is contributed to by factors including adaptive metabolic reprogramming of HCC cells and pre-existing liver diseases that compromise liver function. Abnormal tumor vasculature creates a nutrient-deprived microenvironment, intensifying competition between HCC cells and immune cells and impairing antitumor immunity. Among the complex metabolic network, amino acid (AA) metabolism emerges as a critical player and an attractive therapeutic target. This review first examines how dysregulated AA metabolism supports HCC hallmarks, including metabolic reprogramming and immune evasion. We discuss the translational potential of therapies targeting AA metabolism in HCC, ranging from pharmacologic inhibition to dietary AA intervention, which can be further integrated with existing HCC treatments to improve clinical outcomes.
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