Figure 1

Breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) are highly migratory and are correlated with aggressiveness of the disease. (A) The percentage content of breast CSCs (CD44⁺/CD24^-/low) in different stages of breast cancer was determined by flow cytometry and represented graphically (right panel). The left panel depicts representative flow cytometry data. (B) Migration of primary breast cancer cells of different stages was evaluated by using transwell migration assay. Cells that had migrated to the lower surface of the 8.0-μm membrane were stained with Giemsa stain, counted, and represented graphically (right panel). The left panel shows brightfield images of migration assay of different breast cancer stages. (C) Expression of CSC markers (CD44⁺/CD24^-/low) was visualized by immunofluorescence in the migrating front and non-migrating pool of MCF-7 cells after 24-hour wound-healing assay. Data are presented as mean ± standard error of mean or representative of three independent experiments.