title: Colon cancer stem cells: controversies and perspectives.
abstract: Tumors have long been viewed as a population in which all cells have the equal propensity to form new tumors, the so called conventional stochastic model. The cutting-edge theory on tumor origin and progression, tends to consider cancer as a stem cell disease. Stem cells are actively involved in the onset and maintenance of colon cancer. This review is intended to examine the state of the art on colon cancer stem cells (CSCs), with regard to the recent achievements of basic research and to the corresponding translational consequences. Specific prominence is given to the hypothesized origin of CSCs and to the methods for their identification. The growing understanding of CSC biology is driving the optimization of novel anti-cancer targeted drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Gemelli Hospital, 00168 Rome, Italy. Italy. ausiliapuglisi@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Maria Ausiliatrice
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Puglisi
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tesori
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lattanzi
authors.forename: Giovanni Battista
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: CD133; Chemoresistance; Colon cancer stem cells; Colorectal cancer; Therapy