Figure 2.

Six2 expression is increased in NSCLC spheroids, which display a stronger stemness relative to parental cells. A, Cell spheroid formation ability was examined in A549 and NCI‐H1299 cells. B, C, Expression of stemness markers (ALDH1 and Nanog) was measured in NSCLC cells spheroids and parental cells via qRT‐PCR (B) and Western blot (C) assays. D, ALDH1 activity was determined in the cells depicted in (B). E, F, The formation ability of second generation of spheroids in NSCLC spheroids and cells was detected characterized as the spheroid number and size. G, Images of tumours harvested when NSCLC spheroids and cells were planted. H, I, Six2 mRNA (H) and protein (I) levels were examined in NSCLC cell spheroids and cells. Data were presented as mean ± SD; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs A549 or NCI‐H1299