Figure 1.

Genistein inhibits HCC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. (A, B) Cell viability of LO2 and five HCC cells treated with genistein (Gen, 0–80 μM) for 24, 48, or 72 h (A), or genistein 80 μM for 6–72 h (B). (C) The protein levels of PCNA, LC3, Beclin1, cleaved-caspase 3/9, and PARP in HCC cells treated with genistein for 48 h. β-actin was used as a loading control. (D) Genistein incubation for 48 h induced cell cycle arrest in HCC-LM3 and Bel-7402 cells. (E) Genistein incubation for 48 h induced apoptosis in HCC-LM3 and Bel-7402 cells. (F, G) In a xenograft mouse model, mice were treated with genistein (0, 20, 40, or 80 mg kg⁻¹) for 21 days. At the time points indicated, the following measurements were performed: diameter of tumours (F), and the per cent of HE-positive tumour cells (G). Plotted values represent the mean±s.e of three independent experiments. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001.