Therapeutic implications of colon cancer stem cells

Figure 2 Colorectal cancer stem cells as a tool for drug discovery. In vitro, colorectal cancer stem cells (CRC-SCs), isolated from the tumor specimen, are propagated as “tumor spheres”. Membrane marker analysis together with transcriptional, microRNA and proteomic profiling lead to the identification of molecular targets that are expressed by this cell population. These findings can be used to evaluate the cytotoxic ability of new compounds. In vivo, CRC-SCs can be orthotopically and heterotopically injected into immunocompromised mice generating tumors that mimic the cytoarchitecture of the parental tumors. The use of such mouse models of CRC allows for drug testing analyses in order to eradicate the primary tumor and avoid the formation of incurable metastases.