Interaction and Targeting Strategies of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Microenvironment

Abstract

Colorectal cancer stem cells are undifferentiated tumorigenic cells with malignant phenotypic characteristics in colorectal cancer and considered as the main cause of tumor recurrence, drug resistance, and metastasis through self-renewal and differentiated cloning. Colorectal cancer stem cells and various components in the tumor microenvironment are interdependent and influence one another. The relationship between tumor stem cells and other components in the tumor microenvironment may play an important role in the treatment of colorectal cancer. This review summarizes this relationship.

Keywords

• colon cancer stem cell
• tumor microenvironment
• targeted therapy