Figure 1. Extent of the desmoplastic stromal response in mouse and human tumors correlates with the prevalence of intra-tumoral FAP⁺ stromal cells.

(A) The extent of desmoplasia was evaluated in established tumors by H&E staining, Masson's trichrome staining to reveal collagen deposition (blue), Alcian blue staining for glycosaminoglycans (aqua blue), and reactivity for hyaluronan-binding protein (HABP) or anti-versican antibody. Scale: 100 μm. (B) Flow cytometry was performed to identify CD90⁺ stromal cells and CD45⁺ hematopoietic cells that express FAP. Data shown are normalized to total live tumor population and expressed as the mean ± SEM (n>5). * Denotes significant difference between each group, p value < 0.01.