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Figure 2. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) include cancer stem cells (CSCs): tumor cells can migrate around the body via the blood vessels and this population includes CSCs that metastasize to invade into other organs, forming tumors by colonizing at distant sites such as in the spleen, and the liver. By applying drugs that are cytotoxic for CSCs (such as celecoxib) greatly reduces the incidence of tumor metastases and tumor recurrence. CRC: colorectal cancer