Abstract
Colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for the initiation, progression and metastasis of human colorectal cancers, and have been characterized by the expression of cell surface markers, such as CD44, CD133, CD166 and LGR5. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are differentially expressed between CSCs and non-tumorigenic cancer cells, and play important roles in the maintenance and regulation of stem cell properties of CSCs. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are emerging epigenetic regulators of various RNA processing events, such as splicing, localization, stabilization and translation, and can regulate various types of stem cells. In this review, we summarize current evidences on the roles of miRNA and RBPs in the regulation of colorectal CSCs. Understanding the epigenetic regulation of human colorectal CSCs will help to develop biomarkers for colorectal cancers and to identify targets for CSC-targeting therapies.
Highlights
Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in males and the second in females, with an estimated 1.4 million cases worldwide [1]
We focus on human colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs), especially those directly isolated from the surgical specimens of colorectal cancer patients, and describe current knowledge and future perspectives on the important roles of miRNA and RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in the epigenetic regulation of CSC properties in human colorectal cancers
We found that expression of miR-221 was highly preferentially expressed in CSCs, but not in other non-tumorigenic cancer cells and normal intestinal epithelial cells, in human colorectal cancer patient specimens (Figure 2B)
Summary
Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in males and the second in females, with an estimated 1.4 million cases worldwide [1]. Initiation and progression of colorectal cancers are driven by genetic and epigenetic modifications. We previously identified miRNAs, such as miR-200 families and miR-142, can target key elements of the self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation pathways in human breast CSCs and normal mammary stem/progenitor cells by analysis of the surgical specimens of human breast cancer patients [9,10]. RBPs and RNAs is crucial for various biological processes, such as development and maintenance of stem cell phenotypes. We focus on human colorectal CSCs, especially those directly isolated from the surgical specimens of colorectal cancer patients, and describe current knowledge and future perspectives on the important roles of miRNA and RBPs in the epigenetic regulation of CSC properties in human colorectal cancers
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