In Vivo and In Vitro Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Strategies for Translational Modeling

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly incident and deadly malignant neoplasia, and only a few anti-HCC drugs are currently available. Thus, the development of HCC models has become essential for both basic and translational research, improving the understanding of HCC pathophysiology and molecular landscape. The present paper provides a state-of-the-art overview of in vivo and in vitro models used for translational modeling of HCC, focusing on their molecular hallmarks. Our paper depicts the key features, advantages and disadvantages of the main bioassays available, shedding light on standard HCC model choice. ABSTRACT: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-related death globally. HCC is a complex multistep disease and usually emerges in the setting of chronic liver diseases. The molecular pathogenesis of HCC varies according to the etiology, mainly caused by chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections, chronic alcohol consumption, aflatoxin-contaminated food, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease associated with metabolic syndrome or diabetes mellitus. The establishment of HCC models has become essential for both basic and translational research to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology and unravel new molecular drivers of this disease. The ideal model should recapitulate key events observed during hepatocarcinogenesis and HCC progression in view of establishing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to be translated into clinical practice. Despite considerable efforts currently devoted to liver cancer research, only a few anti-HCC drugs are available, and patient prognosis and survival are still poor. The present paper provides a state-of-the-art overview of in vivo and in vitro models used for translational modeling of HCC with a specific focus on their key molecular hallmarks.