Figure 2.

Increased concentration of rhBMP2 within peripheral blood promoted the growth of liver cancer in vivo. (A) Flow diagram of experiments. BMP2 solution was intravenously injected into H22/Hepa1-2 tumor-burdened mice to study the effects of circulating high BMP2 concentration on the growth of liver cancers. The tumor volumes were measured. (B) The average tumor volumes of subcutaneous H22 tumors in ICR mice after intravenous injection. Data were expressed as means ± SEM (n = 9). “n” indicated the number of mice used. *P < 0.05. (C) ICR mice in (A) were sacrificed and tumor tissues were harvested. The digital image of tumor tissues in NS and rhBMP2 groups was displayed. (D) ICR mice in (A) were sacrificed and tumor tissues were harvested. Tumor weights of NS and rhBMP2 group were compared. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. (E) The average tumor volumes of subcutaneous Hepa1-6 tumors in C57BL/6 mice after intravenous injection. Data were expressed as means ± SEM (n = 5). “n” indicated the number of mice used. **P < 0.01. (F) C57BL/6 ICR mice in (A) were sacrificed and tumor tissues were harvested. Tumor weights of NS and rhBMP2 group were compared. *P < 0.05.