INTRODUCTION Colorectal cancer (CRC) progression is marked by increased proliferation of cancerous stem cells, progressing from an adenomatous polyp to adenocarcinoma.1, 2 Claudin-7-deficient mice exhibit intestinal hyperplasia suggesting a role for claudin-7 in controlling proliferation within the intestine.3−5 Our group previously identified a novel role for claudin-7 in regulating intestinal epithelial stem cell (IESC) survival, self-renewal, and differentiation in the small intestine...