Fig. 1. VM formation and EET markers were significantly reduced in patients with HCC treated with Rhizoma Paridis extracts.
a Evidence and morphologic observation of VM in HCC. Red arrow points to the PAS-positive and CD31-negative vessels lining with tumor cells. Yellow arrow points to the endothelial cell lined vessels. b Statistical results of MVD and VM of patients treated and untreated with Rhizoma Paridis extract. Results showed reduced MVD and lack of VM in HCC tissues treated by Rhizoma Paridis extract. c, d Immunohistochemical staining of E-cadherin, vimentin, Twist1, VE-cadherin, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, MMP2, MMP9, and laminin5. e Circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood of patients. The results showed significantly decreased number of CTCs in patients treated with Rhizoma Paridis extract. The values are means of three experiments, and error bars represent standard deviation (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01)