Figure 3
Hypoxia-induced sorafenib resistance can be overcome by statins in vitro.
(A,C,D) HepG2 cells were incubated with sorafenib at serial concentrations (48 h) in the presence or absence of atorvastatin (8 μM), pravastatin (30 μM) or rosuvastatin (10 μM) at different concentrations and the cell viability and IC50 values were then determined by SRB assays. Data are representative of 3 independent experiments and are expressed as the mean ± SD. (B) Bel-7402 cells were treated with sorafenib at various serial concentrations (48 h) in the presence or absence of atorvastatin or pravastatin and the IC50 values of sorafenib were determined by SRB assays. Data are representative of 3 independent experiments and are expressed as the mean ± SD. “Heat” graphs were presented to display the combination effects. Z-axis: Inhibition ratio of the treated groups under hypoxia and normoxia; X-axis: the concentration of statins; Y-axis: the concentration of sorafenib. And the colors representative for the inhibition ratio were presented. Blue: 0–20% inhibition, green: 40% inhibition, yellow: 60% inhibition, red: 80% inhibition.
