FACS-based protocol to assess cytotoxicity and clonogenic potential of colorectal cancer stem cells using a Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway reporter

Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a key role in tumor initiation and progression. A real-time tool to evaluate the activation of CSC-specific signaling pathways is crucial for the study of this cancer cell subset. Here, we present a protocol to monitor, in vitro, the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is considered a functional biomarker for colorectal CSCs (CR-CSCs). This flow-cytometry-based protocol allows it to isolate CR-CSCs and to evaluate their cytotoxicity upon anti-tumor treatments.