The data of CM from activated HSCs inducing stem-like phenotypes of heat-exposed residual HCC cells such as enrichment of CD133(+) or EpCAM(+) cells, Nanog expression, sphere-formation ability and chemoresistance suggest that activated HSCs promote stemness of heat-treated residual HCC cells mainly through paracrine signaling. The gene discussed is EPCAM; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.