Fig. 2.

Chronic stress promotes the EMT and generation of CSCs in colon cancer. A-B Subcutaneous xenograft tumors grew faster in the EPI group than in the PBS group. (scale bar: 1 cm). C-D Subcutaneous xenograft tumors from the EPI and PBS groups were subjected to immunoblotting. E–G More lung metastatic nodules were observed in the EPI group than in the PBS group. H-I Transwell assays revealed that EPI promotes CRC cell migration abilities. J-K Colony formation assays demonstrated that EPI promotes the proliferation of CRC cells. L-M Mammosphere culture analysis revealed that EPI promotes CSCs in CRC cells (scale bar: 100 μm). N–O Immunoblot analysis revealed that EPI promotes EMT and CSCs in CRC cells. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001