ATC monolayer-derived cells initiate tumors in serially transplanted immunodeficient mice.

<p>(A) Tumor growth curve generated by subcutaneous injection of THJ-11T parental monolayer-derived cells. The number of cells injected is indicated. (B) A representative subcutaneous tumor removed from a mouse xenograft. (C) Western blot analysis showing the expression of ALDH, CD44, and CXCR4 in cells derived from primary, secondary and tertiary xenografts. (D) H&E staining showed that tumors originating from primary, secondary and tertiary xenografts are composed of a highly heterogeneous population of cells with a large nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio. (E) Immunohistochemical analysis of ALDH, CD44, CXCR4 and CD133 levels in mouse xenografts generated from primary xenografts of THJ-11T and THJ-16T. Note that mouse xenografts do not express CD133.