Cancer stem cells in colorectal cancer from pathogenesis to therapy: Controversies and perspectives

摘要: Colorectal cancer remains one of the most common and lethal malignancies worldwide despite use various therapeutic strategies. A better understanding mechanisms responsible for tumor initiation progression is essential development novel, more powerful therapies. The traditional, so-called “stochastic model” development, which assumes that each cell tumorigenic, has been deeply challenged during past decade by identification stem cells (CSCs), a biologically distinct subset within bulk mass. This discovery led to hierarchical model tumorigenesis only CSCs have ability initiate growth, both at primary metastatic sites. implies elimination all fundamental eradicate tumors failure do so might be occurrence relapses and/or metastases frequently observed in clinical management colorectal patients. Identification isolation their role tumorigenetic process CSC-specific Several methods used this purpose many efforts focused on specific CSC-surface markers. review provides an overview proposed roles CSC human focusing important molecules identified as markers potential strategies CSC-targeted therapy.