Expansion of Hepatic Tumor Progenitor Cells in Pten-Null Mice Requires Liver Injury and Is Reversed by Loss of AKT2

Liver carcinogenesis in Pten-null mice requires not only the transformation of TICs but selection pressure from hepatic injury and cell death, which activates TICs. Further research is required to elucidate the mechanism for hepatic injury and its relationship with TIC activation.