Osteopontin increases hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth in a CD44 dependant manner

Figure 7 Over expression of the three osteopontin splice variants promotes Huh-7 tumour growth in Balb/c nude mice. A: Growth of tumours in mice injected in the hind flanks with osteopontin (OPN)-A, -B, -C or control-expressing stable cell lines, with mean tumour volumes at the time of euthanasia expressed graphically in (B) ^aP < 0.05 OPN-A/Huh-7 vector only; C: Polymerase chain reaction analysis of a representative tumour from each of the 4 groups showing OPN mRNA expression in all tumours; D: OPN-a expressing tumours display increased levels of OPN protein. Control and OPN-A tumour sections were immunostained for OPN in conjunction with a rabbit isotype control. Bar represents 100 μm.