Figure 8.

Targeting HMGCS1‐YAP1 axis suppresses HCC growth. A) Combination targeting YAP1 and HMGCS1 inhibits tumor growth in PDX (patient derived xenograft) models. Human liver cancer tissues were grown as tumor xenografts in NCG mice. Growth curves demonstrate the proliferation of PDX tumors in each indicated treatment group: AAV‐shHMGCS1(1 × 10¹² v g mL^‐1, 5 µL), verteporfin (100 mg kg⁻¹ per day, I.P.), or a combination of both. Data are presented as mean ± SD. **, p < 0.01. B) Tumor mass was measured for each group. C) Representative Images of the PDX tumors were harvested at the end of the experiment. D) Immunoblot analysis of protein levels of IGFBP3, Axl, Integrin β2, CYR61, HMGCS1 and CSN6 in the PDX tumor tissues. E) Representative IHC images of Ki‐67, cleaved‐Caspase3, HMGCS1, survivin and HE staining in PDX tumors from the indicated treatment groups were shown. Scale bars, 50 µm. F) Quantification of the indicated protein expressions was shown. **, p < 0.01; n = 3.