a, b Representative images and photo flux of tumour growth of Hep3B-vector, Hep3B-Galectin-3, Hep3B-Galectin-3-shControl and Hep3B-Galectin-3-shβ-catenin cells in BALB/c nude mice at day 7, 14 and 21. c, d Representative images and photo flux of tumour growth of Huh7-shControl, Huh7-shGalectin-3, Huh7-shGalectin-3-vector and Huh7-shGalectin-3-β-catenin cells in BALB/c nude mice at day 7, 14 and 21. e, f IHC staining shows the expression of CD34, IGFBP3 and vimentin in xenografts. Scale bars, 100 μm. g, h Representative images and photo flux of lung metastasis of Hep3B-vector, Hep3B-Galectin-3, Hep3B-Galectin-3-shControl and Hep3B-Galectin-3-shβ-catenin cells in BALB/c nude mice at day 14, 21 and 28. i, j Representative images and photo flux of lung metastasis of Huh7-shControl, Huh7-shGalectin-3, Huh7-shGalectin-3-vector and Huh7-shGalectin3-β-catenin cells in BALB/c nude mice at day 14, 21 and 28. k, l H&E staining shows micro-metastatic pulmonary nodules of Hep3B-vector, Hep3B-Galectin-3, Hep3B-Galectin-3-shControl, Hep3B-Galectin-3-shβ-catenin, Huh7-shControl, Huh7-shGalectin-3, Huh7-shGalectin-3-vector and Huh7-shGalectin-3-β-catenin cells in BALB/c nude mice. Scale bars, 100 μm. Ctrl control, G3 Galectin-3. The results represent three independent experiments. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001.