VX-509 attenuates the stemness characteristics of colorectal cancer stem-like cells by regulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition through Nodal/Smad2/3 signaling

Figure 1 Spherical cells derived from colorectal cancer cell lines exhibit cancer stem cell characteristics. A: Microscopy images of colorectal cancer parental cells and specified serum free cultured spheres; B-E: The protein expression levels of Oct4, Nanog, and SOX2 (B), CD133 and CD44 (D) in parental cells and sphere cells are shown. Densitometric analysis of Oct4, Nanog, and SOX2 (C) and CD133 and CD44 (E) normalized against β-Actin; F and G: ALDH+ cells were measured using flow cytometry and relative statistical analysis; H and I: Transwell migration assay of parental cells and sphere cells and relative statistical analysis; J: Representative pictures showing the tumorigenic capacities of parental cells and sphere cells derived from HCT116 cells. Scale bar = 50 μm. n = 3. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001, ^dP < 0.0001 compared to the HCT116 cell group and HT29 cell group. ALDH: Aldehyde dehydrogenase.