VIM and colorectal carcinoma: Untreated control CRC cells (HCT116 and HCT116R) showed a basal expression of E-cadherin, vimentin and slug, and in contrast, the expression of vimentin and slug was markedly up-regulated and E-cadherin was down-regulated in the presence of TNF-β, like TNF-α treatment individually, or in combination treatment (TNF-β or TNF-α with 5-FU) (Figure 5C,D) in alginate cultures.