Figure 5.

ERK/AKT signaling pathway is a critical mediator of TGF-β-induced sorafenib resistance. (A) Cells were pretreated with TGF-β, and then exposed to sorafenib (10 μM) in the presence or absence of chemical inhibitors for (A) 72 h or (B) 48 h. (A) Columns represent the percentage of dead cells as assessed by trypan blue assay. (B) Apoptotic cell numbers were assessed by Annexin V assay. White column, non-treated control cells. Experiments were performed in triplicate, and the data represent the means ± SD of triplicate experiments (*P<0.05 vs. cells treated with sorafenib and TGF-β).