Research progress in colorectal cancer stem cells / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor in digestive tract. Theory of tumor stem cells (TSCs) offers a new approach to understand the development mechanism of colorectal cancer. OBJECTIVE: To review the progress in the existence, origin and identification of colorectal cancer stem cells (Co-CSCs). RETRIEVAL STRATEGY: Pubmed was undertaken to identify relevant articles published from January 1990 to July 2007 with the of "colorectal cancer,stem cell,tumor stem cells" in English.At the same time, Vip database was undertaken to identify the relevant articles published between January 1990 and July 2007 with the key words of "colorectal cancer, stem cell, tumor stem cells" in Chinese. The data were selected primarily, and then quotations of each article were checked. Inclusive criterion: the articles related to the advances of the existence, origin and identification of Co-CSCs were selected. Exclusive criterion: the articles with repetitive research were excluded. Totally 63 relevant articles were selected and 33 of them met the inclusive criterion. The 30 excluded articles were of old or repetitive content. LITERATURE EVALUATION: Of the 33 inclusive articles, 28 were on the existence and origin of Co-CSCs, 4 were about the isolation and identification of Co-CSCs, and 1 was about the problems and prospect. DATA SYNTHESIS: TSCs is a rare population of cells in tumor tissues with infinitely proliferative and self-renewal potential that drive the formation and growth of tumors. It may become a new target to eradicate malignant tumor. TSCs have been discovered in leukemia and some solid tumors. Intestine stem cells are poorly differentiated. Its phenotype is difficult to identify. There are many reports on the quantity, location, origin, function and relation with intestinal disease. Co-CSCs have been isolated and identified as EpCAMhigh/CD44+ cells recently, which accelerate to understand the mechanism of colorectal cancer. CONCLUSION: The discovery of Co-CSCs is one of the advances in researching of malignant tumor. TSCs may become a new target to eradicate malignant tumor, and brings hope to cure it.