Liver cancer cells. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of cancer cells in the liver. The cells are part of a hepatocellular carcinoma, a cancer that develops from epithelial (lining) cells and is commonly caused by cirrhosis. These cancerous cells have large nuclei (pale purple), very little cytoplasm (orange, yellow) and are undergoing chaotic division. Cancers originating in the liver can be removed by surgery, with a good chance of survival.