Fig. 6: HG CRC cell lines upregulate cell proliferation genes and EMT markers.

A Cell type signature GSEA showing significant enrichment of the “mesenchymal” gene signature previously identified by Gao et al.²⁴ in HG CRC cell lines. B, C Images of cell migration over 24 h of representative B high and C low-grade cell lines. D Quantitation of the cell migration rates of LG (n = 13) and HG (n = 22) CRC cell lines, assessed over 24 h in vitro. Data shown are mean ± SEM. E Representative images of metastasis of n = 2 low-grade and n = 2 high-grade CRC cell lines in a zebrafish model in vivo. Cells were injected into the perivitelline space of zebrafish embryos and seeding of cells in the avascular fin tip (F) quantified after 3 days. Data shown in (F) are mean ± SEM of n = 21–37 zebrafish embryos per cell line. In all cases, groups were compared using unpaired t-tests. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.005, ****P < 0.001.