Fig. 4

EpCAM overexpression mediates stem-like properties of NPC cells. a Western blot analysis showed that the expression levels of the CSC biomarkers CD44, OCT4, Nanog and ABCG2, as well as the EMT regulatory factor Slug were significantly enhanced in the EpCAM-expressing S-18 and 6–10B cells but suppressed in EpCAM-depleted HONE1 cells compared with control cells. b Representative light microscopy images of stem-like spheres after ectopic EpCAM expression in S-18 and 6–10B cells. The number of stem-like spheres formed in each group was determined in triplicate plates. All values are expressed as the mean ± SEM. Overexpression of EpCAM significantly enhanced sphere formation of NPC cells (**P < 0.01)