Stemness in Colon Cancer

Cell plasticity is a major driver of colorectal cancer (CRC), as tumors hijack intestinal stem cell regenerative programs to create a dynamic, bidirectional axis between complementary stem-like states. Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) display hallmark stem cell properties, including self-renewal, multipotency, controlled differentiation, and quiescence, and are now recognized as key orchestrators of CRC biology. They can sustain tumor initiation and long-term growth, seed metastases, enable periods of dormancy, and promote resistance to chemotherapy. As a result, therapeutically dismantling CSC populations and their supportive niches offers a compelling strategy to improve treatment responses and ultimately patient survival.