Figure 7.

Knockdown of ERK1/2 reverses chemoresistance, EMT, and stemness in colorectal cancer cells. (A) Knockdown of ERK1/2 enhances the 5-Fu-induced decrease in cell viability. ERK1/2 knockdown cells were subjected to treatment with or without 5-Fu for a duration of 48 h, and cell viability was determined using the MTT assay (n = 8). (B) Knockdown of ERK1/2 leads to a decrease in the expression levels of EMT markers in CRC cells. The proteins were isolated from ERK1/2 knockdown CRC cells and were later analyzed using immunoblotting. (C) Knockdown of ERK1/2 reduces spheroid growth (n = 3). The ERK1/2 knockdown cells grew in a sphere-forming medium, and the total number of spheroids per well was quantified. * statistically significant in comparison to the control group, with p < 0.05. # compared to 5-Fu-100 µM.