PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - TSOUMAS, DIMITRIOS
AU  - NIKOU, SOFIA
AU  - GIANNOPOULOU, EFSTATHIA
AU  - TSANIRAS, SPYRIDON CHAMPERIS
AU  - SIRINIAN, CHAIDO
AU  - MAROULIS, IOANNIS
AU  - TARAVIRAS, STAVROS
AU  - ZOLOTA, VASSILIKI
AU  - KALOFONOS, HARALABOS P.
AU  - BRAVOU, VASILIKI
TI  - ILK Expression in Colorectal Cancer Is Associated with EMT, Cancer Stem Cell Markers and Chemoresistance
DP  - 2018 Mar 01
TA  - Cancer Genomics - Proteomics
PG  - 127--141
VI  - 15
IP  - 2
4099  - http://cgp.iiarjournals.org/content/15/2/127.short
4100  - http://cgp.iiarjournals.org/content/15/2/127.full
SO  - Cancer Genomics Proteomics2018 Mar 01; 15
AB  - Background/Aim: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSC) are critically implicated in cancer metastasis and chemoresistance. Herein, we investigated integrin-linked kinase (ILK)'s role in human colon cancer (CRC) progression and chemoresistance in relation to EMT and CSC markers. Patients and Methods: Expression of ILK, EMT and CSC markers were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 149 CRC samples. We also generated colon cancer cells resistant to 5-FU and oxaliplatin and studied the effect of ILK inhibition on drug response by MTT assay and on EMT and CSC markers' expression. Results: ILK expression in human CRC correlates with EMT and CSC markers and is associated with metastasis and chemoresistance. ILK inhibition increases sensitivity of resistant cells to 5-FU and oxaliplatin and reduces the levels of EMT and CSC markers in 5-FU resistant cells. Conclusion: ILK overexpression in human CRC associates with EMT and CSC traits, contributing to tumor progression and chemoresistance.