Identification of tumor initiating cells and early marker genes in normal colonic epithelium that lead to neoplastic transformation.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although the adenoma-carcinoma sequence and associated genetic alterations are well characterized, the earliest cellular and molecular events that initiate tumorigenesis within histologically normal colonic epithelium remain poorly defined. This study aims to identify tumor-initiating cells (TICs) and early transcriptional markers of neoplastic transformation using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) from paired normal-appearing and transformed human colonic tissues.

Methods

Fresh biopsies from histologically normal-appearing colonic mucosa and paired polyps, including tubular adenomas, sessile serrated adenomas, and adenocarcinoma, were collected from 7 hu

SUBMITTER: Jaiswal S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12636725 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature