N6-methyladenosine-modified long non-coding RNA KIF9-AS1 promotes stemness and sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma by upregulating SHOX2 expression

Figure 7 Knockdown of the long noncoding RNA KIF9-AS1 inhibited sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft model mice. Huh-7/R cells transfected with sh-KIF9-AS1 or sh-NC were subcutaneously transplanted into BALB/c nude mice to establish a mouse model of xenograft tumor growth. Sorafenib was administered orally twice a week at a dosage of 30 mg/kg from days 7-14 and 21-28. A-C: The tumor volume and weight of the mice were recorded; D: Images of immunohistochemical staining for Ki67 in tumor tissues; E: Short stature homeobox 2, CD44, CD133 and epithelial cell adhesion molecule expression levels were assessed via western blotting. n = 6. ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001. EpCAM: Epithelial cell adhesion molecule.