Table 3.

β-catenin and matrix metalloproteinase-7 mRNA levels in orthotopic and hepatic metastatic tumors in the transplant model

Group	β-catenin				MMP-7
	Orthotopic tumors		Hepatic metastatic tumors		Orthotopic tumors		Hepatic metastatic tumors
	n	Relative expression	n	Relative expression1	n	Relative expression	n	Relative expression2
CON	11	0.809 ± 0.354	5	20.588 ± 13.595	11	5.688 ± 3.255	5	1.211 ± 0.593
WCA	10	0.271 ± 0.173b	3	3.679 ± 3.271	10	2.236 ± 1.528a	3	0.030 ± 0.025b
5-FU	11	0.513 ± 0.261a	4	4.559 ± 5.491	11	2.427 ± 2.111	4	0.061 ± 0.021
WCA + 5-FU	10	0.445 ± 0.325b	3	5.788 ± 2.029	10	0.918 ± 1.011b	3	0.044 ± 0.019a

¹β-catenin mRNA expression levels in hepatic metastatic tumors were presented as mean ± SD and nonparametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis tests) were performed, P = 0.155;

²Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) mRNA expression levels in hepatic metastatic tumors were presented as mean ± SD and nonparametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis tests) were performed, P = 0.012.

^aP < 0.05 vs CON;

^bP < 0.01 vs CON. WCA: Weichang’an; 5-FU: 5-fluorouracil; CON: Control.