Figure 3. Site-dependent field cancerization effect of EMT-related genes in airways with respect to tumor proximity.

The site-dependent field cancerization (FC) score was quantified as described in Methods. Box plots depicting site-pendent FC score in airways from all NSCLCs (A), SCCs only (B) and Adenocarcinomas only (C), as well as the corresponding paired NSCLCs and normal lung tissues (D). Statistical analysis in (D) was performed by one-sided t tests. Heavy lines indicate medians, and whiskers indicate maximum and minimum FC scores. Airway distance from tumors is numerically indicated with a range of 1 (closest) to 5 (farthest).