ASS1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Aspartate plays a crucial role in tumor cell survival, proliferation, and therapeutic resistance.[11] ASS1, a key enzyme in aspartate metabolism, is associated with favorable prognosis in HCC.[43] It has been demonstrated that ASS1 inhibits the proliferation and migration of HCC cells and enhances their sensitivity to systemic therapies.[44, 45] However, the role of ASS1 in regulating HCC stemness has not been previously investigated.