HCP5 or PDE4A promotes ESCC cell migration, invasion and stemness characteristics
(a,b) Number of migrative and invasive KYSE30 and EC109 cells transfected with empty pcDNA3.1, pcDNA3.1-HCP5 or pcDNA3.1-PDE4A was assessed with Transwell assays. (c) Stemness characteristics of KYSE30 and EC109 cells after transfection of empty pcDNA3.1, pcDNA3.1-HCP5 or pcDNA3.1-PDE4A were investigated with sphere formation assay by determining number of formed spheres (per 1000 cells). (d) The expression levels of cell stemness-associated proteins (Nanog, Sox2 and Oct4) in KYSE30 and EC109 cells after transfection of empty pcDNA3.1, pcDNA3.1-HCP5 or pcDNA3.1-PDE4A were detected via western blot. **p < 0.01.