Fig. 3: The Integrin αvβ3/ERK1/2/GLI1 pathway maintains the stem cell-like phenotype in MCAs of GC cells.

a Decreased tumor spheres forming ability in the group of Integrin αvβ3 inhibitor Cilengitide or ERK1/2 inhibitor PD-184161 or GLI1 inhibitor GANT61 compared to the blank control in SGC7901 MCAs and BGC823 MCAs. Scale bar = 10μm. b Lower colony forming ability in the group of Integrin αvβ3 inhibitor Cilengitide or ERK1/2 inhibitor PD-184161 or GLI1 inhibitor GANT61 compared to the blank control in SGC7901 MCAs and BGC823 MCAs. c Western blottingting showing downregulated stemness-related genes CD44, ALDH1A1, Oct4, Bmi1 and Nanog in the group of Integrin αvβ3 inhibitor Cilengitide or ERK1/2 inhibitor PD-184161 or GLI1 inhibitor GANT61 compared to the blank control in SGC7901 MCAs and BGC823 MCAs. d, e Decreased volume and weight of xenograft tumors in the group of Integrinαvβ3 inhibitor Cilengitide or ERK1/2 inhibitor PD-184161 or GLI1 inhibitor GANT61 compared to the blank control in SGC7901 MCAs and BGC823 MCAs. Each bar in the figure represents the mean ± SEM of triplicates. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01