Survivin is regulated by interleukin-4 in colon cancer stem cells

Colorectal cancer has provided an important model to test the stem cell hypothesis of cancer origin, which implies that cancer arises as a result of genetic aberrations in stem cells leading to deregulation of the proliferation/differentiation balance. We and others have demonstrated that, similarly to other solid tumors, colon carcinogenesis and progression are dictated by highly apoptosis-resistant stem-like cells. Our data have suggested that protection from apoptosis is achieved by autocrine production of interleukin-4 (IL-4) through up-regulation of anti-apoptotic mediators. In this study, we extend our analysis to another apoptosis inhibitor widely expressed in tumors, namely survivin…