Fig 1.
Expression of AXL in HCC specimens and cell lines.
Results of examining Axl expression in tumor tissues and paired non-tumorous tissues by real-time RT-PCR (A), RT-PCR (B) and western blot (E), respectively. Results of examining Axl expression in SMMC-7721, Hep3B, HepG2, Hu7 cell lines by real-time RT-PCR (C), RT-PCR (D) and western blot (F), respectively. β-actin was used as internal control. G: Representative images of immunohistochemical staining of AXL in paired tumor (b) and non-tumorous tissues (c). a: the lower magnification field. Bars, ±SD.
Fig 2.
Effects of AXL expression on cell growth and invasiveness of SMMC-7721.
A: Western blot analysis of cell lysate expressing the control vector (mock), the wild-type AXL (AXL-WT, stable transfection), and RNAi AXL (Si-AXL, transient transfection after 72 hours). B: Cell growth curve of cells transfected with constructs as indicated by MTT assay. C, D: Representative plots of flow cytometry and statistical results of cell apoptosis of cells transfected by constructs as indicated by propidium iodide and annexin V-FITC staining. Bars, ±SD. *, P<0.05 versus mock, **, P<0.001 versus mock. E: Statistical results of cells transfected with constructs as indicated in transwell assay. *, P<0.05 versus mock, **, P<0.001 versus mock. F: Representative image of cells transfected with constructs as indicated in the wound healing assay. Mock: control vector; AXL-WT: the wild-type AXL; si-Axl: transient transfection after 72 hours.
Table 1.
Correlation between intratumoral AXL expression and clinicopathologic features.
Abbreviations: AFP, alpha-fetoprotein; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; HBeAg, hepatitis E antigen; PLT, platelet count; TBIL total bilirubin; ALB, albumin; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; PVTT, portal vein tumor thrumbus; MVI, microvascular invasion.
Fig 3.
AXL expression and its association with prognosis in HCC patients.
A, B: Kaplan-Meier curve of TTR and overall survival rates in patients with positive and negative AXL staining, respectively.
Table 2.
Univariate and multivariate analyses for tumor recurrence and patient survival.
Abbreviations: AFP, alpha-fetoprotein; PVTT, portal vein tumor thrumbus; MVI, microvascular invasion.