Introduction: Recent evidence based on cancer stem cell (CSC) models, is boosting the progress of translational research and providing relevant clinical implications in many tumour types, including colorectal cancer. The current failure of standard therapies is attributed to a small fraction of the primary cell population with stem-like characteristics, such as self-renewal and differentiation. Identification of CSCs is based on two different criteria of selection: stemness-selective conditions and direct isolation based on putative stem cell markers expression. CD133, a transmembrane glycoprotein, was associated with tumor-initiating cells derived from several histological variants of tumors, including colon.
Areas covered: In this review the current understandings about CD133 as putative marker of tumour-initiating cells in colorectal cancer (CRC) is described. The focus of the discussion is on the need for additional markers to better identify the cell population able to recapitulate the parental tumor in immunocompromised mice.
Expert opinion: Identification and characterization of CSCs represents a relevant issue to define innovative therapeutic approaches, overcoming the emergence of cancer cell clones capable of evading standard therapy.