Fig. 2: The complexity of LGR5 function in CRC.
From: Targeting LGR5 in Colorectal Cancer: therapeutic gold or too plastic?
Model 1: LGR5 is overexpressed in CRC and plays an important role in CRC progression, where it is associated with many oncogenic functions in CRC (in red) and predicts poor outcome. Model 2: Loss of LGR5 expression is important for CRC progression because it performs multiple tumour suppressor roles (in green), suppresses Wnt signalling, and predicts favourable outcome. Model 3: LGR5+ cells can freely interconvert with LGR5− cells to drive both oncogenic and normal processes in the gut (in blue). This implies the LGR5 molecule has both important and redundant roles in CRC initiation and progression. A role for the LGR5 molecule in metastasis is likely, given the requirement of LGR5+ cells for metastatic progression. LGR5 function in CRC is confounded by multiple variables (in black).
