Figure 3. Rho/ROCK activity modulates HCC chemoresistance in vivo.

(A and B) Xenograft tumor growth derived from subcutaneously injected HCC cells in nude mice. Tumors were first allowed to grow to about 100 mm³ in size and then different treatments were given to the mice as described below. (A) RhoE knockdown BEL-7402 cells and NTC were used. Mice were given either 4 mg/kg cisplatin or PBS through intraperitoneal injection once every 3 days. Cisplatin only slowed down the growth of NTC tumors but not that of RhoE knockdown tumors. (B) Parental BEL-7402 cells were used. Mice were given i) PBS, ii) 4 mg/kg Y27632, iii) 3 mg/kg cisplatin, and iv) 3 mg/kg cisplatin + 4 mg/kg Y27632, respectively, through intraperitoneal injection once every 3 days. Combined treatment of cisplatin and Y27632 had synergistic effect in suppressing HCC tumor growth than cisplatin alone. Representative result from 3 experiments is shown. P-value was calculated using non-linear regression.