Figure 4

Activated HSCs promote the in vivo progression of heat-exposed residual HCC cells. (a) Heat-exposed residual MHCC97H cell co-inoculated with or without activated HSCs subcutaneously in the right flank of nude mice (n = 6 mice per group). The group of residual MHCC97H with pHSCs displayed faster tumor growth as assessed by estimated tumor weight (ETW) compared to the residual MHCC97H group. (b,c) Up-regulation of Nanog, CD133, EpCAM and POSTN in the tumors generated with residual MHCC97H with pHSCs. Quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis were performed. **P < 0.01; *P < 0.05.