Table 3. CSCs and EMT gene expression validation using GAPDH and PUM1 as reference genes.

CSCs: cancer stem cells; EMT: epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Sl. No	Gene	Fold regulation in stage III/IV rectal tumor with respect to stage II rectal tumor		Fold regulation in metastatic rectal tumor with respect to stage II rectal tumor
	Gene	Fold change	P-value	Fold change	P-value
1	ALDH	4.79	0.006	7.14	0.075
2	E cadherin	1.70	0.005	-1.22	0.244
3	Vimentin	4.84	0.024	2.07	0.537
4	Twist	11.76	0.003	5.05	0.015