Research Paper Volume 16, Issue 2 pp 1620—1639
PROX1 interaction with α-SMA-rich cancer-associated fibroblasts facilitates colorectal cancer progression and correlates with poor clinical outcomes and therapeutic resistance
Figure 5. α-SMA-rich CAF potentiates the invasive potential of PROX1-expressing CRC cells. (A) Schematic representation of α-SMA-rich CAF co-cultured with PROX1-expressing CRC (HCT116) cells. (B) Micrograph of α-SMA-rich CAF, with inserted immunofluorescent staining of α-SMA. (C) Invasion assay shows SW-480, SW-620, HCT116 and HT-29 cells co-cultured with α-SMA-rich CAF acquired increased invasive potential compared to their counterparts which were not co-cultured with the CAF. (D) Immunofluorescence staining of PROX1 and/or α-SMA in CRC tissue sample. Blue – DAPI, Green – PROX1 and Red – α-SMA. Survival rate analysis of colorectal cancer patients. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis shows a correlation between (E) tumor stage and disease-free survival, DFS, (F) PROX1 expression and DFS, (G) α-SMA expression and DFS, and (H) co-expression of PROX1 with α-SMA, and DFS.