Emergence of oncofetal plasticity is ubiquitous in early colorectal cancers

Nature, Published online: 15 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10344-7

Metastasis-associated oncofetal cell states emerge at the earliest stages of colorectal cancer and spatial profiling shows stereotypic patterning of fibroblast subtypes resembling normal tissue architecture, resulting in distinct regional microenvironments that dictate the timing and positioning of oncofetal plasticity.