FIGURE 4.

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) enhance the anti-HCC effects of RT efficiently in vivo. (A) Schematic illustration of animal study schedule. Flowchart showing the preparation and culture of AT-MSCs. Treatment was started when the tumor reached ∼100 mm³, designed as day 0. Orthotopic xenografts of HCC cells in female Balb/c nude mice were randomly divided into four groups: (1) CTRL group: tumors were injected with saline; (2) RT group: tumors were treated with radiation; (3) MSC group: tumors were treated with administrated 1 × 10⁶ AT-MSCs; and (4) RTM group: tumors were injected with AT-MSCs via the tail vein on day 0 immediately after radiation exposure. (B) Subcutaneous tumor volumes (mm³) in all groups was plotted. Data represent the mean tumor volume in each group measured on the indicated day (n = 10 mice per group. ^∗∗P < 0.01, ^∗∗∗P < 0.001). (C) Body weight of mice after treatment at the indicated time points (n = 10 mice per group). (D) Representative images of mice with induced tumors at the endpoint. (E) Tumors from each group were excised on the indicated day. (F) The net tumor weight of mice in each treatment group. Tumors were harvested, and the weights were measured before lysis at the endpoint (n = 8 tumors per group. ^∗∗P < 0.0, ^∗∗∗P < 0.001).