Fig. 4. The effect of AFP on HCC cell growth in vivo and in vitro.

a PLC/PRF/5 cells were transfected with control-siRNA vector (V) or AFP-siRNA923, and PLC/PRF/5 cells (1 × 10⁶) in 0.1 mL of Hank balanced salt solution were then subcutaneously injected into the right scapular region of male nude mice (n = 10). Tumour-bearing mice were killed when they became moribund on day 30 after inoculation, and tumours were removed and weighted. The right column graph indicates the tumour weight. b HLE cells were treated with AFP (20 mg/L) for 48 h. c HLE cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-afp vector and cultured for 48 h, and MTT assays were performed to detect cell proliferation (n = 6)