LGR5 and neoplasm: As CRC develops, LGR5 expression is significantly upregulated in tumor tissues compared to normal mucosa, and LGR5+ CSCs exhibit enhanced WNT/β-catenin signaling, clonogenicity, and tumor-initiating capacity (Figure 3a) [79,80,81,82] LGR5+ cells display unique mechanical properties: they are stiffer, adhere more strongly to the extracellular matrix, move more slowly, and show higher nuclear YAP activity than their LGR5 counterparts, traits that confer survival advantages during metastatic colonization [83,84].