Oncotarget. 2017 Dec 22;9(70):33403-33415. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.23607. eCollection 2018 Sep 7.

Cancer stem cells in progression of colorectal cancer.

Zhou Y^#1, Xia L^#1, Wang H¹, Oyang L¹, Su M¹, Liu Q¹, Lin J¹, Tan S¹, Tian Y¹, Liao Q¹, Cao D^1,2.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide with high mortality. Distant metastasis and relapse are major causes of patient death. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a critical role in the metastasis and relapse of colorectal cancer. CSCs are a subpopulation of cancer cells with unique properties of self-renewal, infinite division and multi-directional differentiation potential. Colorectal CSCs are defined with a group of cell surface markers, such as CD44, CD133, CD24, EpCAM, LGR5 and ALDH. They are highly tumorigenic, chemoresistant and radioresistant and thus are critical in the metastasis and recurrence of colorectal cancer and disease-free survival. This review article updates the colorectal CSCs with a focus on their role in tumor initiation, progression, drug resistance and tumor relapse.