Unearthing a novel tumor suppressor function of ATOH8 in hepatocellular carcinoma: role in acquisition of cancer stem cell-like features

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most prevalent cancer worldwide and the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths (1). Surgical resection and liver transplantation are available for early-stage HCC, yet only a small proportion of patients are amenable to surgery as most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages. Although chemotherapy is often administered to patients with inoperable HCC as an adjuvant therapy, relapse rates and mortality rates remain high due to the strong tendency for tumors to develop drug resistance. Identifying novel prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for HCC is therefore essential for managing HCC and improving the long-term survival of patients. In a recent study published in Gastroenterology (2), atonal homolog 8 (ATOH8), which plays a crucial role in development, has been demonstrated to function as a tumor suppressor in HCC and might serve as a novel therapeutic target