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Epigenetic and Immune Regulation of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells

  • Molecular Biology (S Anant, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Colorectal Cancer Reports

Abstract

Colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs) were initially considered to be a subset of undifferentiated tumor cells with well-defined phenotypic and molecular markers. However, emerging evidence indicates instead that colorectal CSCs are heterogeneous subsets of tumor cells that are continuously reshaped by the dynamic interactions between genetic, epigenetic, and immune factors in the tumor microenvironment. Thus, the colorectal CSC phenotypes and responsiveness to therapy may not only be a tumor cell-intrinsic feature but also depend on tumor-extrinsic microenvironmental factors. Furthermore, emerging evidence also implicates colorectal CSCs in potential immune evasion. Therefore, understanding how colorectal CSC-intrinsic mechanisms cooperate with the extrinsic microenvironmental factors to dynamically shape colorectal CSC resistance to chemotherapy and immunotherapy holds great promise for development of targeted CSC therapies of advanced human CRC.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA

    Amy V. Paschall & Kebin Liu

  2. Cancer Center, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA

    Amy V. Paschall & Kebin Liu

  3. Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30904, USA

    Amy V. Paschall & Kebin Liu

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  1. Amy V. Paschall
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Paschall, A.V., Liu, K. Epigenetic and Immune Regulation of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells. Curr Colorectal Cancer Rep 11, 414–421 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11888-015-0301-6

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