Functional relationship between CFTR and RAC3 expression for maintaining cancer cell stemness in human colorectal cancer.

Purpose: CFTR mutations not only cause cystic fibrosis, but also increase the risk of colorectal cancer. A putative role of CFTR in colorectal cancer patients without cystic fibrosis has so far, however, not been investigated. RAC3 is a nuclear receptor coactivator that has been found to be overexpressed in several human tumors, and to be required for maintaining cancer stemness.