A possible clinical benefit of the identification and characterization of colon cancer stem cells

ObjectiveTo assess the existence of colon cancer stem cells in different disease stages and identify a possible correlation between this cell population and cancer progression.MethodsTo investigate the correlation between nanog, oct3/4, sox2, and cd26 expression levels and colon carcinoma, a series of colon cancers were successfully analyzed, and various protocols were performed on a group of patients. Peripheral blood was collected from six patients diagnosed with various stages of colon carcinoma.ResultsA potential gene expression pattern in colon carcinomas was observed.ConclusionsThis study focused on determining the associated molecular mechanisms, which could be targeted to prevent and/or to minimize colon cancer's side effects. It was found that colon cancer stem cells existed in all clinical cases. A correlation between nanog, oct3/4, cd26 and sox2 gene was also observed.