Fig. 2

CD24+CD44+CD54+EpCAM+ cells show Cancer Stem cell properties. (A–C) Cell differentiation potential of GCEP (CD24+CD44+CD54+EpCAM+). Cells were able to generate different phenotypes under the same cell culture conditions. A Primary tumorspheres, B Secondary tumorspheres came from GCEP cells derived from primary tumorspheres. C Tertiary tumorspheres came from GCEP cells derived from secondary tumorspheres. D GCEP cells showed greater capacity to form secondary and tertiary tumorspheres after sorting. Only the GCEP cell subpopulation was able to form secondary and tertiary spheres. E Percentage of cells with GCEP and GCnEP (CD24−CD44−CD54−EpCAM−) cells present in primary, secondary, and tertiary tumorspheres. Error bars indicate the ± SD of three independent assays. *P ≤ 0.05