CD44 and colorectal carcinoma: When the cell stiffness is increased mediated by C×43 overexpression, the expression of stemness biomarkers was downregulated in CRC cells (CD133, CD44, Nanog, and SOX2, Figure 5d), and the sphere-forming capacity of CRC cells also was suppressed (Figure 5e), while the down-regulated of CX43 mediated by siRNA reversed this effect (Figure 5d,e).