Figure 3.

Viability of small‐cell lung cancer cells showing aberrant activation of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/MET is dependent on the HGF/MET pathway. SBC‐5, DMS273, and DMS273‐G3H cells were treated with siRNAs (si‐) specific to either MET or HGF, or scrambled controls (SCR). (a) Cell viability was determined by MTT assay 72 h after siRNA treatment. Data are shown as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *P < 0.05 by Student's t‐test, si‐SCR versus si‐MET or si‐HGF. (b) Cell lysates were evaluated for protein expression by Western blot analysis 48 h after siRNA treatment. Three independent experiments were carried out, and a representative result is shown. AKT, protein kinase B; p, phosphorylated.