Fig. 6.

CHIR-99021, a GSK-3β inhibitor, suppresses the EndMT process and overcomes chemoresistance in MCTSs. a Representative images of tumor size after 12 days of treatment as indicated. Tumor volumes of MCTS in BALB/c-nu mice after treatment with 16 mg/kg CHIR-99021, 50 mg/kg Gefitinib, or combination of CHIR-99021 and Gefitinib. Drug administration was initiated once the tumor reached a size of 100–200 mm³. b Serum ALT and AST levels, measured in MCTS xenograft mice after 12 days post-treatment. c Representative images of H&E-stained tumors, as well as immunohistochemical analysis using Masson’s trichrome staining and antibodies against CD31 and Ki67, in the tumors of MCTS xenograft mice after treatment with the indicated drugs. The black arrow indicates the CD31-positive area. Results are presented as mean ± standard error of the means. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001 versus Control. Scale bars = 200 μm