Role of stem cells in carcinogenesis and progression of colon adenocarcinoma

The review is devoted to modern conception about a clone of cancer stem cells as a source of colon adenocarcinoma and a key factor in its progression, as well as the relationship of the immunophenotype of this population with the prognosis of the disease. According to the modern hierarchical model of carcinogenesis, cancer stem cells are responsible for the initiation, maintenance of growth and spread of the oncological process, forming daughter cells that make up the organized tissue of the neoplasm. This concept assumes that the complete destruction of a tumor is possible only if its entire stem cell population is eliminated. To date, the role of cancer stem cells in carcinogenesis has been proven, but data on the relationship between the expression of their markers and the prognosis of the disease remain controversial. In addition, there are difficulties in identifying the stem cell population. Based on this, further study of the immunophenotype of colon adenocarcinoma stem cells is not only an important direction in clarifying the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, but also an effective tool in predicting the biological behavior of a tumor, which is of great interest for clinical oncology.