Type I collagen inhibits differentiation and promotes a stem cell-like phenotype in human colorectal carcinoma cells

• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605143
• Publication Date: 2009-06-30T20:22:53Z
• Authors: S C Kirkland
• Keywords: Type I collagen

Human colorectal cancer is caused by mutations and thought to be maintained a population of stem cells. Further phenotypic changes occurring at the invasive edge suggest that colon cells are also regulated their microenvironment. Type I collagen, promoter malignant phenotype in pancreatic carcinoma cells, highly expressed front human cancer. This study investigates role type collagen specifying cell phenotype. The effect on morphology, localisation cell–cell adhesion proteins, differentiation cell-like characteristics was examined panel lines. grown serum-free medium show an epithelial–mesenchymal-like transition (EMT-like), assuming more flattened less cohesive morphology. downregulates E-cadherin β-catenin junctions. Furthermore, inhibits differentiation, increases clonogenicity promotes expression markers CD133 Bmi1. effects were partially abrogated function-blocking antibody α2 integrin. Together, these results indicate likely through α2β1