Figure 4.

H&E and immunohistochemistry analysis of TSCCA xenograft tumors. (A) Histopathological alterations of tumor tissues from nude mice models were observed using H&E staining. Compared with the negative control and blank control groups, cells in the si-CXCR4 group exhibited smaller nuclei, lighter staining, less neovasculature and more apoptosis and necrosis. (B) Immunohistochemistry analysis of CXCR4, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, MMP2/9 in TSCCA xenograft tumors. CXCR4 and N-cadherin positive staining were observed in the cytoplasm and membrane, and were suppressed in the si-CXCR4 group. E-cadherin was located in the membrane and expressed more clearly in the si-CXCR4 group. MMP2/9 was located in the cytoplasm and was inhibited in the si-CXCR4 (magnification, ×400). TSCCA, tongue squamous cell carcinoma; CXCR4, C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4; si-CXCR4, small interfering RNA to CXCR4; control, blank control group; NC, negative control small interfering RNA group; MMP, matrix metalloproteinases.