Table 3.
The comparison of morphological and molecular characteristics of Caco-2 and HT-29-derived spheroids
| Characteristic | Cell type | |
|---|---|---|
| Caco-2 | HT-29 | |
| Sphere formation method | Free floating (suspension) culture | Hanging drop method |
| Complexity of setup | Simple (spontaneous formation) | Moderate |
| Cost and reproducibility |
Low cost High reproducibility |
Low cost High reproducibility Time consuming and extensive handling necessary |
| Spheroid formation rate (spheroidization time) | 3 days | 4 days |
| Spheroid structure maintenance | Moderate (stable for 5 days) | High (stable up to 12 days) |
| Morphological characteristics | Round-shape, hollow structures with bubble like structures | Round-shape, smooth surface and compact morphology |
| Secondary sphere formation ability | Yes | Yes |
| Spheroid size (average) | Medium (66.9 ± 14.88 µm) | Large (82.52 ± 22.56 µm) |
| CSC enrichment capacity | Yes | Yes |
| Up-regulated stemness genes | SOX2, C-MYC, KLF4 | SOX2, C-MYC, OCT4, NANOG |
| CSCs surface markers up-regulation | + + | + |
| MDR genes up-regulation | No |
Yes (ABCB1 and ABCG2) |
| Up-regulated EMT genes | SNAIL1, E-cadherin, Vimentin | TWIST1, SNAIL1, ZEB1, E-cadherin |