Fig. 2

FVTF inhibits HCC cell stem properties in vitro and in vivo. MHCC97H and SK-Hep-1 HCC cells were treated with indicated concentrations of FVTF (0.0, 1.0, 3.0, 10.0 μg/ml), and subjected to in vitro cancer stem properties analyses. A Representative results (left) and statistical analysis (right) of tumorspheres and soft agar colonies formation in the HCC cells treated with FVTF. B Western blot analysis showing the expression levels of CD44 in the HCC cells treated with FVTF. C qRT-PCR showing the expression levels of BMI1, SOX2 and OCT4 in the HCC cells treated with FVTF. D–G FVTF decreases the tumor-initiating capacity of HCC cells in vivo. D Schematic diagram illustrating the treatment plan of FVTF in the nude mice with xenografts generated from MHCC97H cells. E The photographs of xenografts 35 days after initial FVTF treatment. F Summary data of tumor-initiation capacity of the HCC cells after initial FVTF treatment. G Tumor volume was periodically monitored and tumor growth curves of 1 × 10³, 5 × 10³, 1 × 10⁴ and 5 × 10⁴ HCC cells were plotted, and average tumor weight after initial FVTF treatment is also shown. Scale bars = 100 μm. ^*P < 0.05; ^**P < 0.01; ^**P < 0.001; ^****P < 0.0001; ns, no significance