IFNG and adenoma: Indeed, we have previously found that the expression level of IFN-γ in the adenoma stage was slightly increased and then it was significantly decreased in the CRC stage, implying a selective role of IFN-γ in the management of malignant status along the adenoma-carcinoma sequence (47), in which increased IFN-γ in the adenoma stage maintains pCSCs in a relatively stable state, and decreased IFN-γ level in the CRC stage enhances CSC stemness and malignancy.