Fig. 5

Expression of Cldn7 and Sox9 in CRC cell lines and clinical tissues. a Sox9 expression was obvious in SW620 cell lines with low Cldn7 expression, was weak in the high Cldn7-expressing cell lines HCT116 and HT29, and the Sox9 band was virtually undetectable in SW480 cell lines with moderate Cldn7 expression. b Cldn7 was expressed at lower levels in CRC tissues than in adjacent tissues, and Sox9 expression was significantly increased in CRC tissues. c Cldn7 was expressed at significantly lower levels in metastatic cancer tissues than in primary tumours. Sox9 expression was increased in liver metastasis and lung metastasis tissues