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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Isolation of Primary Myofibroblasts from Mouse and Human Colon Tissue
Published on: October 12, 2013
IGF2BP3 is essential for the growth heterogeneity of colorectal adenoma cells by regulating MYC
Tomohiko Sunami1,2, Roberto Coppo1, Kunishige Onuma1
1Department of Clinical Bio-resource Research and Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Abstract:
Colorectal adenoma is a major precancerous lesion of colorectal cancer (CRC). The adenoma-carcinoma sequence is a multistep progression to CRC caused by the accumulation of genetic mutations. However, the non-genetic mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unknown. In this study, organoids were established from colorectal adenomas patients. Some organoids showed heterogeneity in the proliferative potential of single cells, which is regulated by non-genetic mechanisms. IGF2BP3 was identified as a differentially expressed gene associated with different growth patterns. IGF2BP3 modulated MYC expression levels in positive and negative directions, enabling high proliferative capacity and preventing MYC-induced cell death. IGF2BP3 affected tumorigenicity of mouse adenomas in vivo. Intratumoral heterogeneity in the growth potential is acquired at the precancerous stage of colorectal carcinogenesis, and IGF2BP3 is important for regulating MYC levels. These findings suggested a gatekeeping mechanism in the early stages of carcinogenesis.
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