RESUMO
BACKGROUND:Recent studies have shown that cancer stem cels play a key role in the development of tumors, therefore, the research about cancer stem cels’ markers can deepen the understanding of the development and clinical diagnosis of the tumor. OBJECTIVE:To review the research progression of stem cel marker LGR5. METHODS: The first author retrieved PubMed database and Wanfang database for papers regarding LGR5 and stem cel/cancer stem cel published between January 1998 and December 2014 using the key Words “LGR5, stem cel, cancer stem cel” in English and Chinese, respectively. A total of 178 papers were initialy retrieved. After 123 papers with independent objective and out-of-date contents were excluded, 55 papers were suitable for final analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: LGR5 is the surface marker of intestinal, stomach, hair folicle stem cels, which has a great relationship with occurrence, development and prognosis of colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, basal cel carcinoma. As a candidate marker of cancer stem cels, LGR5 can be the new treatment target. Studies have shown that R-spondins (RSPOs) is a high affinity ligand of LGR5. They participate in the Wnt signaling pathway, regulating cel proliferation and differentiation.