Fig. 5. In vivo effect of combining SF + CIS treatment on cancer stem cells in a xenograft HNSCC mouse model.

a Intra-oral tongue xenografts of HNSCC–CSCs in nude immunocompromised mice that were treated with IP injections of the vehicle control (normal saline), SF, CIS or SF + CIS (n = 5 mice per group). Intra-oral tumour size and mice body weights were monitored weekly. Black arrow indicates tumour formation after 1 week of tumour implantation with 1 × 10⁴ CD44⁺/CD271⁺ SCC12 cells. b Tumour volumes and c mice body weights were determined as described in the “Methods” section. Data represent means ± SD for N = 5 (*P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01 compared with the control, ^@P < 0.05 and ^@P < 0.01 compared with the combined treatment). d A representative H&E staining of histological sections of the kidneys (upper row) and livers (lower row) after treatments with SF and/or CIS, or vehicle control, is shown at ×5 magnification and ×20 magnification in the insets; scale bars = 130 μm and 34 μm for the main photograph and the inset, respectively.