Abstract: Objective To screen and identity genes related to CD133 +CD200 + colorectal cancer stem cells. Methods The two
subpopulations of colorectal cancer cells, namely CD133 +CD200 + and CD133-CD200- cells, were sorted and verified by flow
cytometry. The gene expression profiles of CD133 + CD200 + and CD133-CD200- colorectal cancer cells were examined using
Affymetrix Human U133 Plus2.0 genome-wide genechip. The differentially expressed genes between the two cell
subpopulations were analyzed to identify the genes responsible for the main effect in association with colorectal cancer stem
cells. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to confirm some of the differentially expressed genes identified by genechip.
Results The genechip result showed that 655 genes were differentially expressed in CD133+CD200+ colorectal cancer stem cells
by at least 3 folds, including 290 up-regulated and 365 down-regulated ones. Bioinformatics analysis and gene co-expression
network building identified 3 genes (MDM2, PRKACG, and CACNA1G) with specific expression in CD133+CD200+ colorectal
cancer stem cells, and this result was confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR analysis. Conclusion A specific gene expression
profile of colorectal cancer stem cells has been established through screening and identifying genes related to CD133+CD200+
colorectal cancer stem cells by gene genechip technique, which provides a basis for further study of gene targeting therapy of
colorectal cancer.