Figure 1.

A, Comparison of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell growth when Hepa 1‐6 cells were injected into a healthy liver (HL group) and in mice pretreated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) for 7 wk (CCl₄ 7w group). B, Sirius red‐stained liver sections in CCl₄‐treated (at time of HCC cell injection) and non‐treated mice. Scale bar, 100 μm. Collagen fibers were evaluated as percentage of stained area in the section (mean ± SD). C, Hepatic gene expression of Collagen I (Col I) and alphaSma (mean ± SD) at time of HCC cell injection. D,E, Percentage of animals with a tumor was calculated in the HL and CCl₄ 7w groups and tumor burden was evaluated by total tumor volume per liver (mm³) and the liver to body weight ratio. F, Representative H&E‐stained tumor and non‐tumor tissue sections. Scale bar, 100 μm. **P < .01; ***P < .001