Open AccessCancer Stem Cells in Colorectal Cancer: Genetic and Epigenetic Changes
Author(s) -
Sohini Roy,
Adhip P.N. Majumdar
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of stem cell research and therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2157-7633
DOI - 10.4172/2157-7633.s7-006
Subject(s) - epigenetics , cancer stem cell , colorectal cancer , cancer , malignancy , biology , microrna , cancer research , mouse model of colorectal and intestinal cancer , population , stem cell , bioinformatics , oncology , medicine , gene , genetics , environmental health
Colorectal cancer (CRC), an age-related disease, is the third most common cancer in the world. Although sporadic CRC, that affects 80-85% of CRC patients, is a multi-step process initiated by APC gene mutation, it is becoming increasingly evident that a small sub-population of cells termed cancer stem/stem-like cells (CSCs/CSLCs) plays critical roles in the progression of this malignancy specially the recurrence and drug resistance. The current review will summarize genetic and epigenetic changes observed at different stages in the progression of sporadic CRC. In addition, roles of miRNAs that control gene expression and CSCs/CSLCs in regulating proliferation, differentiation, and survival of the colon cancer cells will be summarized.