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Stem cells in colon cancer. A new era in cancer theory begins

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Abstract

Introduction

Despite the various therapeutic combinations and the emergence of new targeted therapies, there is still no curative treatment for all stages of colorectal cancer. Through the query for the best possible combination and solution, a new theory approaching colorectal cancer as a stem cell disease appeared, with a continuously growing body of evidence supporting this idea. The inability to directly recognize cancer stem cells has led researchers to an attempt of distinguishing those using indirect markers.

Discussion

This review focuses on colon cancer stem cell theory, the various findings supporting and contradicting this hypothesis, and the markers used up to now in characterizing stem cell populations in colorectal cancer. Despite the numerous unanswered questions on this new cancer hypothesis, it appears to have a justifiable role to play in colorectal cancer tumor biology, and furthermore, it may be the basis for the development of new therapeutic agents of the future. Therefore, every surgeon, oncologist, and physician who is implicated with this disease should be familiar with this novel colorectal cancer theory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1st Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Hippokratio Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 1527, Athens, Greece

    Joanna Papailiou & George Theodoropoulos

  2. 1st Propaideutic Surgical Department, Laikon University Hospital, 11725, Athens, Greece

    Konstaninos J. Bramis

  3. Department of Biology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 11725, Athens, Greece

    Maria Gazouli

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  1. Joanna Papailiou
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  2. Konstaninos J. Bramis
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  3. Maria Gazouli
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  4. George Theodoropoulos
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Correspondence to Joanna Papailiou.

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Papailiou, J., Bramis, K.J., Gazouli, M. et al. Stem cells in colon cancer. A new era in cancer theory begins. Int J Colorectal Dis 26, 1–11 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-010-1022-6

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