Fig. 2

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of the CTC-AT cells. A-C The phenotypic profile of CTCs and Sk-Mel-28 was explored by flow cytometry. Representative panels show the similar expression of Melan-A (100%), CD146 (100%) and RANK (32 + 5.4%) in CTCs and Sk-Mel-28. CTCs line showed an intermediate EMT phenotype (E-CAD: 89 ± 3.9%; N-CAD: 100%) whereas Sk-Mel-28 were exclusively N-cadherin positive. The CXCR4 expression was almost similar although the MFI was lower in CTCs (MFI: 2616 vs. 3254). The CD155 and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression was similar although a different MFI was revealed. D Real time-PCR explored the basal expression of EMT transcriptional factors in CTC-AT. Results are expressed as 2^−Δct and bars represent mean ± SEM. **p < 0.01. All experiments were completed in triplicate and repeated three times thus obtaining similar results