883-Oncofetal Plasticity in Early Colorectal Cancer

Paper Talk · May 1, 2026 · 20m

The study examine the early emergence of metastatic potential in colorectal cancer, specifically focusing on the oncofetal cell states that appear at the invasive front of stage T1 tumors. Through spatial transcriptomics and the creation of a multiregional organoid biobank, researchers discovered that these high-risk cellular programs are ubiquitous even in non-metastatic early cancers. The study demonstrates that metastatic competence is not driven by new genetic mutations at the tumor’s edge, as cells in the core and the front remain genetically similar. Instead, the transition to an…