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Cancer Cells with Stem Cell-Like Phenotypes and Liver Metastasis from Colon Carcinoma

Antonia Bellizzi and Stefania Tommasi

Tumor heterogeneity contributes to the potentiality of tumors to invade and metastasize. Thus the identification of specific cells programmed to go to a specific site and establish themselves, actively proliferating and causing metastasis, could be fundamental for early diagnosis and for selective targeted therapy. Apart from gene signatures which seem to identify this tumor ability, selected cell populations with self-renewal potential have been recognized: stem cell-like cancer cells. In this paper we review recent evidence on the identification of colon cancer cells with stem cell-like properties which could have a key role in the liver metastasization. The potential clinical implication of their therapeutic eradication is also discussed.