Contrasting Impacts of Targeted Disruption of the Cancer Stem Cell Marker CD133 and Its Epigenetic Regulator TRIM28 in Colorectal Cancer Cells.

ABSTRACT: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a crucial role in colorectal cancer by sustaining intratumoral heterogeneity, therapeutic resistance, and metastatic potential. CD133 (PROM1) is among the most frequently used surface markers for CSC identification, whereas TRIM28, a versatile epigenetic regulator, has been implicated in controlling CD133 expression and stem-like features. In this study, we performed a detailed molecular and functional analysis of Caco2 colorectal cancer cell clones with individual knockouts of CD133 or TRIM28. Elimination of CD133 neither altered global gene expression, as confirmed by transcriptome profiling, nor affected key cellular properties. In contrast, loss of TRIM28 led to a marked reduction in CD133 protein abundance and induced extensive molecular and phenotypic re

SUBMITTER: Kholodenko IV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12652789 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature