Effect of MSC co-culture or fusion on proliferation and cell cycle of SCC-25 cancer cells in vitro. (A) MTT assay evaluating cell proliferation of SCC-25, MSC, sorted SCC-25 and fused MSC/SCC cells at 24, 48, and 72 h (P < 0.001 compared to SCC-25). (B) Cell cycle analysis was performed in 4 cell types by flow cytometry following propidium iodine staining for cell cycle determination. (C) Proliferation pathway evaluated by Akt phosphorylation by western blot in the studied cell types. MSC, Mesenchymal stem cells; SCC, squamous cell carcinoma.