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Fig. 3 | Molecular Cancer

Fig. 3

From: Stem cells in homeostasis and cancer of the gut

Fig. 3

Cancer stem cell dynamics in colorectal cancer growth and therapy. (a) The strictly hierarchical cancer stem cell (CSC) model postulates that the CSC state is a fixed entity and CSCs are intrinsically equipped with self-renewal potential and multi-potency. On the opposite, the (micro-)environmental defined CSC model states that signal molecules derived from the stromal compartment install CRC cells with CSC potential, such as self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation capacity. (b) The top panel predicts that eradicating CSCs by blocking important stem cell signaling pathways, e.g. Wnt signaling, is not sufficient to halt tumor growth. Once treatment is discontinued (top left panel) specific CSC-installing signals from the niche will provide CRC cells with CSC potential and these CSCs will again drive tumor growth. The bottom panel shows a situation in which both (micro-)environmental signals as CSC-specific pathways are blocked resulting in potentially effective tumor control

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