Cancer-associated fibroblast-derived SEMA3C facilitates colorectal cancer liver metastasis via NRP2-mediated MAPK activation.

ABSTRACT: Liver metastasis remains the predominant cause of mortality in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying the initiation of colorectal cancer liver metastasis remain poorly elucidated. During the metastatic process of CRC cells from the primary site to the liver, we performed time-resolved analyses and identified a subset of tumor cells spatially located in the primary tumor and temporally distributed in the early stages of liver metastasis. These cells were termed liver metastasis-initiating cells (LMICs). LMICs exhibit high stemness, low proliferation, active interaction with surrounding stromal components, and a close association with liver metastasis. Notably, we found significant interactions between cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and LMICs vi

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12130859 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature