Targeting Ceramide Metabolism in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: New Points for Therapeutic Intervention.

Background: Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the greatest global health burdens because of its uncontrolled cell growth and proliferation, aggressive nature as well as inherited chemoresistance. In spite of different treatment options currently available for HCC, the 5-year relative survival rates for HCC patients with regional and distant stages of the disease are still low, which highlights the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies for HCC. Recent findings strongly suggest that specific lipid species, such as sphingolipids, play a prominent role in tumorigenesis.