Table 2. Comparison of the characteristics of LNCaP cells, spheres, and neuroendocrine cells.

Markers and Properties	Characteristics
	LNCaP	Spheres	Neuroendocrine cells
Pancytokeratin	+/−	−	+++
Neuro-specific enolase	+/−	-	+++
Serotonin	−	−	+
AR	++	+++	+
Sp1	+/−	+++	−
PSA	+	+++	−
Ki67	++	+++	+
CD44	<2%	46%	67%
Colony formation	+++	++	+
Invasive cells	++	+	+++
DNMT1	+++	++	+
GSTP1	+	++++	+++

Definitions: +/−: focally and weakly positive; −: negative; +: weakly positive; ++: moderately positive; >=+++: strongly positive.

Abbreviations: AR: androgen receptor; DNMT: DNA methyltransferase; GSTP: glutathione-S-transferase;