[Hepatocellular carcinoma: tumoral or peritumoral disease?].

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly malignant cancer with prognosis and survival still poor mainly because of HCC reoccurrence and cancer metastasis. No drugs are so far available to reduce or block HCC progression, likely because the molecular mechanisms involved in cancer proliferation and spread are mainly unknown. In this review, we will discuss the role of the tissue microenvironment in affecting HCC clinical outcome. Therefore, based on new pathogenetic findings, tissue microenvironment will be considered as potential target for new therapeutic approaches. The aim of this review is to stimulate the debate on the translational research in the HCC field.