Fig. 2.
Bcl-3 enhances the tumorigenicity and chemoresistance of CRC in vivo. a A total of 5 × 105, 5 × 104, and 5 × 103 Bcl-3-silenced (shBcl-3-KD-1) HCT116 cells or control cells were subcutaneously inoculated into BALB/c nude mice for observation of tumor growth. The results are shown as the means ± SD; (n = 5 for each group). *Adjusted p value < 0.05; **adjusted p value < 0.01; and ***adjusted p value < 0.001 by two-way ANOVA. b Representative images of tumors in a, 30 days after injection. c Tumorigenic cell frequency in Bcl-3-silenced HCT116 cells or control cells was determined by limiting dilution assays (http://bioinf.wehi.edu.au/software/elda/). d q-RT-PCR analysis of Bcl-3 mRNA expression levels in HCT116 and SW620 cells treated with 5-FU and oxaliplatin for the indicated time points. *Adjusted p value < 0.05; **adjusted p value < 0.01; and ***adjusted p value < 0.001 by one-way ANOVA. e, f Bcl-3-KD and corresponding control cells were treated with different concentrations of 5-FU or oxaliplatin for 48 h. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. *Adjusted p value < 0.05; **adjusted p value < 0.01; and ***adjusted p value < 0.001 by two-way ANOVA. g, h Bcl-3-silenced cells and control cells were treated with 5-FU (1 μg/ml) or oxaliplatin (20 μM) for 48 h as indicated. The percentage of apoptotic cells was determined by flow cytometry