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Fig. 1 | Journal of Hematology & Oncology

Fig. 1

From: Higher matrix stiffness as an independent initiator triggers epithelial-mesenchymal transition and facilitates HCC metastasis

Fig. 1

Higher liver stiffness promotes the growth and metastasis of HCC in vivo. a The flow chart for establishment of buffalo rat HCC models with different liver stiffness backgrounds. b Liver stiffness values of buffalo rats in groups N, M, and H. N, normal stiffness; M, medium stiffness; H, high stiffness. c Gross appearance and size of orthotopic HCC tumors in groups N, M, and H. d Histochemistry analysis of Sirius red, Masson’s trichrome, reticular fiber staining, and Ki-67 expression in orthotopic HCC tumors. e Pulmonary metastasis rate of orthotopic HCC tumors in groups N, M, and H. The incidences of lung metastasis in group M (4/6, 66.7%) and group H (6/6, 100%) were more frequent than that in groups N (1/6, 16.7%). f The expressions of COL1, FAK, integrin β1, and LOX in orthotopic HCC tumors in groups N, M, and H. g The expressions of MMP2, MMP9, SPP1, and CD44 in orthotopic HCC tumors in groups N, M, and H. h Gross appearance and wet weight of subcutaneous tumors derived from MHCC97H cells mixed in Matrigel and varied concentration of COL1, and their histochemistry analysis and Ki-67 expression. C, HCC cells; Matr, HCC cells in Matrigel; Matr+L, HCC cells in Matrigel and low concentration COL1; Matr+H, HCC cells in Matrigel and high concentration COL1. i The expressions of MMP2, MMP9, SPP1, and CD44 in subcutaneous tumors. j The expressions of integrin β1 and FAK in subcutaneous tumors. Scale bar, 1000 μm. Error bars indicate SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001

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