The Colorectal Cancer Initiating Cell: Markers and Their Role in Liver Metastasis.

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading cancers in the Western world with a steadily increasing incidence. The most common site of metastasis is the liver, where the appearance of metastases strongly correlates with survival time and survival rates. After a brief overview on colorectal cancer and the metastatic process, this chapter will focus on the possible impact of the cancer initiating cell and the markers EpCAM and CD44 on metastasis formation. This will include a discussion on the importance of the tumor matrix and of exosomes in angiogenesis and in preparing the metastatic niche. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]