Differences and Similarities Between Colorectal Cancer Cells and Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells: Molecular Insights and Implications

Abstract

Malignant tumors are formed by diverse groups of cancercells.Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of heterogeneous cellsidentified in tumors that have the ability to self-renew and differentiate.Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most frequent malignant tumor,is progressively being supported by evidence suggesting that CSCsare crucial in cancer development. We aim to identify molecular differencesbetween CRC cells and CRC CSCs, as well as the effects of those differenceson cell behavior in terms of migration, EMT, pluripotency, morphology,cell cycle/control, and epigenetic characteristics. The HT-29 cellline (human colorectal adenocarcinoma) and HT-29 CSCs (HT-29 CD133(+)/CD44(+) cells) were cultured for 72 h. The levelsof E-cadherin, KLF4, p53, p21, p16, cyclin D2, HDAC9, and P300 proteinexpression were determined using immunohistochemistry staining. Themigration of cells was assessed by employing the scratch assay technique.Additionally, the scanning electron microscopy method was used toexamine the morphological features of the cells, and their peripheral/centralelemental ratios were compared with the help of EDS. Furthermore,a Muse cell cycle kit was utilized to determine the cell cycle analysis.The HT-29 CSC group exhibited high levels of expression for E-cadherin,p53, p21, p16, cyclin D2, HDAC9, and P300, whereas KLF4 was foundto be high in the HT-29. The two groups did not exhibit any statisticallysignificant differences in the percentages of cell cycle phases. Theidentification of specific CSC characteristics will allow for earliercancer detection and the development of more effective precision oncologyoptions.