We studied the formation of spheroids by Caco-2, SW480, and HCT116 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines under low-adhesion culturing conditions. Of these three cell lines, only HCT116 formed stable tumor spheroids. Flow cytometry analysis of 19 surface markers in monolayer HCT116 culture and spheroids formed by these cells revealed considerable similarity of the expression profiles in these two culturing modes. The only exception was EpCAM molecule: its expression in spheroids was 3-fold higher than in the monolayer culture. Scanning confocal laser microscopy showed equal EpCAM distribution in the inner mass of the spheroids.

中文翻译：

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上皮细胞粘附分子 (EpCAM) 在人结直肠腺癌细胞肿瘤球体中的表达

我们研究了 Caco-2、SW480 和 HCT116 人结肠直肠腺癌细胞系在低粘附培养条件下形成的球体。在这三种细胞系中，只有 HCT116 形成稳定的肿瘤球体。对单层 HCT116 培养物中的 19 个表面标志物和由这些细胞形成的球体的流式细胞术分析显示，这两种培养模式中的表达谱具有相当大的相似性。唯一的例外是 EpCAM 分子：它在球体中的表达比在单层培养中高 3 倍。扫描共聚焦激光显微镜显示球体内部质量相等的 EpCAM 分布。