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Cancer stem cells: nature versus nurture

Nature Cell Biology volume 12, pages 419–421 (2010)Cite this article

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Although all cells within a colon cancer may harbour adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) or β-catenin mutations, activation of Wnt signalling is limited to a subpopulation of cells that display cancer stem cell properties. This activation requires a co-stimulatory signal mediated by hepatocyte growth factor, which is produced by tumour-associated myofibroblasts.

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Figure 1: Activation of Wnt signalling in colon cancer stem cells by stromal-derived HGF.
Figure 2: Wnt activation regulates colon stem cells during carcinogenesis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hasan Korkaya and Max S.Wicha are at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., 6302 CC, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5942. mwicha@umich.edu,

    Hasan Korkaya & Max S. Wicha

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  1. Hasan Korkaya
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  2. Max S. Wicha
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Competing interests

M.S.Wicha is a scientific consultant for, and holds equity in, OncoMed Pharmaceuticals.

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Korkaya, H., Wicha, M. Cancer stem cells: nature versus nurture. Nat Cell Biol 12, 419–421 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0510-419

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