- A hepatoblast is an immature precursor liver cell that normally exists during fetal liver development.
- It is bipotential, meaning it can differentiate into:
- Hepatocytes (functional liver cells)
- Cholangiocytes (bile duct epithelial cells)
- Clinical relevance:
- Hepatoblasts are the cell of origin for hepatoblastoma, the most common primary liver cancer in children.
- Persistence or malignant transformation of hepatoblasts postnatally can lead to tumor formation.
High-Yield Pharmacist Pearl
- Hepatoblastoma chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing immature hepatoblast-like cells, often with cisplatin-based regimens.
- Understanding the cellular origin helps in predicting tumor behavior, AFP production, and chemo sensitivity.