Fig. 6

Knockdown of HOXB7 inhibited the migration and invasion and the expression of CSCs-related makers in Cal27 and Fadu cells. A–C: The cell motilities and invasion were remarkably diminished after HOXB7 knockdown as gauged by wound healing (A) and transwell-invasion assay (B, C). Measurements of wound healing was performed at 12 and 24 h after cell scratching while measurements of transwell assays were done at 12 h after cell seeding; D: The abundance of EMT-related markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin were measured by western blot (WB) in the Cal27 and Fadu cells following HOXB7 knockdown; E, F: The capability of tumorsphere formation was markedly reduced in siHOXB7-transfected cells relative to control cells (E). Quantification of primary and secondary tumorspheres culture were shown (F); G: The abundances of cancer stem cells (CSCs) - related makers were measured by western blot (WB) in the Cal27 and Fadu cells following HOXB7 knockdown. Scale bar = 100 μm. Data showed here are mean ± SD from three independent experiments; ANOVA analyses. CSCs, cancer stem cells; SD, standard deviation. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01