CD44 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Current strategies to target HCC derived CSCs include targeting cell surface markers like (e.g. CD133, CD44) [9], blocking pathways required for CSC survival (e.g. PI3K/AKT, Oct4) and self-renewal (Wnt, Notch, TGF-β) [8], targeting the tumor microenvironment [10], and induction of differentiation CSC differentiation [11] either with chemical compounds or nanoparticles [12].