Role of octamer transcription factor 4 in proliferation, migration, drug sensitivity, and stemness maintenance of pancreatic cancer cells

Figure 1 Expression of Octamer transcription factor 4 and CD133 in pancreatic and paracancer tissues. A and B: Octamer transcription factor 4 (OCT4) expression in pancreatic cancer; C and D: CD133 expression in pancreatic cancer; E: Relationship between OCT4 and pancreatic cancer survival; F: Relationship between CD133 expression and pancreatic cancer survival. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01. OCT4: Octamer transcription factor 4.

Figure 2 Change in the expression of BxPC3 cells upon high and low expression of Octamer transcription factor 4 (EdU and apoptosis assay). A: EdU assay was used to detect the proliferative ability of BxPC-3 cells; B: Proportion of EdU-positive cells; C and D: Apoptotic ratio of BxPC3 cells. ^aP < 0.05. OCT4: Octamer transcription factor 4.

Figure 3 Cell migration and invasion. A and B: Octamer transcription factor 4 (OCT4) expression changes affect the invasion ability of BxPC3 cells; C and D: OCT4 expression changes affect the migration ability of BxPC3 cells. ^aP < 0.05. OCT4: Octamer transcription factor 4.

Figure 4 Tumor sphere formation and change in the stemness of BxPC3 cells with high and low expression of Octamer transcription factor 4. A: Octamer transcription factor 4 (OCT4) expression changes affect BxPC3 cell tumorsphere formation; B: CD133 (red) and CD44 (green) expression as detected using immunofluorescence. ^aP < 0.05. OCT4: Octamer transcription factor 4.

Figure 5 After Octamer transcription factor 4 expression changes, the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer BxPC3 cells to gemcitabine changes. A and B: Effects of different gemcitabine concentrations on the proliferative ability of BxPC-3 cells; C: Effects of changes in OCT4 expression on the proliferative ability of BxPC-3 cells. ^aP < 0.05. OCT4: Octamer transcription factor 4.

Figure 6 Effects of normal, knockdown, and overexpression of Octamer transcription factor 4 on PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway protein expression in BxPC3 cells. ^aP < 0.05. OCT4: Octamer transcription factor 4.