Fig. 7: HBx promoted HCC growth and metastasis.

a MHCC97L-NTC and –shHBx cells were inoculated into NUDE mice subcutaneously and tumor growth was monitored by caliper measurement. b Subcutaneous tumors were harvested and tumors were weighed. c Luciferase-labeled MHCC97L-NTC and –shHBx cells were inoculated into NUDE mice orthotopically. Bioluminescent images and signals were captured and quantified, respectively, in mice that were injected with luciferin. d Left: Images of orthotopic tumors derived from MHCC97L-NTC and –shHBx cells. Right: Tumor size was measured by caliper. e Bioluminiscence from lung tissues obtained from mice with orthotopic tumors derived from luciferase-labeled MHCC97L-NTC and –shHBx cells. f Primary orthotopic tumors were stained with picro-sirious red and analyzed under polarized light. Left: Images of crosslinked collagens of the tumors. Right: numbers of collagen fibers per field were counted in at least 10 random fields per animal at ×4 magnification. g Shear wave elastography imaging of subcutaneous tumors derived from MHCC97L-NTC and –shHBx cells. The mean elasticity values reflecting stiffness of the tumors were calculated. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, Student’s t test