In HCT8 colorectal carcinoma cells, etoposide induces characteristics for stemness, as judged by their self renewal capacity, colonosphere formation, radioresistance and markedly reduced chemotherapy sensitivity as well as a defined set of CSC-markers like EpCAM, Mucins 1 & 4, c-Myc, Stat3, stem cell factor (SCF), Musashi, β-catenin, among others (see Additional file 1). This evidence concerns the gene STAT3 and colorectal carcinoma.