Fig. 6

The cell distribution and molecular expression of integrin β1 (a), E-cadherin (b) and N-cadherin (c) in HO-8910PM cells cultured in RADA16-I hydrogel, Matrigel and collagen I for 7 days. The brown color indicated the viable proliferation cells, which revealed a solid tumor-like tissue architecture and MCTS formation that was stained by hematoxylin in sections. d Relative quantification of protein expression levels in RADA16-I hydrogel, Matrigel and collagen I. Immuno-expression of integrin β1, E-cadherin and N-cadherin was quantified as an index of positively staining area over total hematoxylin-staining section area in gel-cell clumps. **P < 0.01 denoted hydrogel matrix compared; ^##P < 0.01 denoted cell adhesion molecules compared. Scale bars were 200 μm