Nature - A research study led by a group of Japanese scientists demonstrated that human LGR5+ colorectal cancer cells serve as cancer stem cells (CSCs) in growing cancer tissues. This study provides insights into self-renewal and differentiation capacity of LGR5+ tumor cells as well as the plasticity of CSCs and their potential as a therapeutic target in human colorectal cancer.

 

Visualization and targeting of LGR5+ human colon cancer stem cells

 

Authors: Mariko Shimokawa, Yuki Ohta, Shingo Nishikori, Mami Matano, Ai Takano, Masayuki Fujii, Shoichi Date, Shinya Sugimoto, Takanori Kanai & Toshiro Sato

Nature - doi:10.1038/nature22081 - 29 March 2017