Immune Adaptation of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells and Their Interaction With the Tumor Microenvironment

Chun-Chi Lin; Tsai-Tsen Liao; Muh-Hwa Yang

doi:10.3389/fonc.2020.588542

Immune Adaptation of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells and Their Interaction With the Tumor Microenvironment

Front Oncol. 2020 Nov 18:10:588542. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.588542. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Chun-Chi Lin^{1

2

3}, Tsai-Tsen Liao^{4

5}, Muh-Hwa Yang^{1

6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ Cell Physiology and Molecular Image Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁶ Cancer Progression Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁷ Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract

Metastasis is the primary cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Emerging evidence has shown that CRC stem cells (CRCSCs) play a significant role in metastatic dissemination and tumor recurrence. However, strategies for targeting CRCSCs are limited because CRCSCs are resistant to therapeutic interventions and because the tumor microenvironment (TME) provides a supportive niche. Moreover, growing evidence highlights the critical role of CRCSCs in immune adaptation and modulation of the TME. CRCSCs escape immune surveillance by avoiding recognition by the innate immune system and shaping the TME through exosomes, cytokines, and chemokines to generate an immunosuppressive niche that facilitates cancer progression. In this review, we summarize studies investigating the immunomodulatory properties of CRCSCs and their underlying mechanisms in order to improve the efficacy of treatment strategies against advanced CRC.

Keywords: colorectal cancer stem cells; immune evasion; immunotherapy; metastasis; tumor microenviroment.

Publication types

Review