Analysis of the expression patterns of thymosin β4 and HIF-1α in colon cancer tissue microarray showed that thymosin β4 and HIF-1α co-localized in these biopsies.
In this review, we summarize the staging system, the most critical genetic and epigenetic alterations, the pleiotropic effects of MMP-7, the controversial roles of Hedgehog signaling, the intriguing involvement of thymosin beta-4, and the possible contribution of the putative colon (cancer) stem cells in CRC tumorigenesis.
Overexpression of the thymosin beta-4 gene is associated with increased invasion of SW480 colon carcinoma cells and the distant metastasis of human colorectal carcinoma.
To address the above questions, Tbeta-4-overexpressing human colon carcinoma (SW480) cells were established by stable transfection and their phenotypic changes were monitored.