Fig. 1

IRFA promoted the growth, metastasis, EMT and angiogenesis of residual HCC tumors. A Colony forming ability of Hep3B and SMMC7721 cells after heating at different temperatures for 15 min and a quantitative analysis chart (n = 3). B Growth curves of subcutaneous tumors with or without IRFA (n = 5). C Migration and invasion of Hep3B and SMMC7721 cells after heating at different temperatures for 15 min and a quantitative analysis chart (n = 3). Scale bar, 0.1 cm. D Protein expression of EMT markers vimentin, N-cadherin and E-cadherin in Hep3B and SMMC7721 cells after heating at different temperatures for 15 min. E Tube formation of HUVECs after coculture with or without the supernatant of sublethally heated Hep3B and SMMC7721 cells and quantification of tubule meshes (n = 3). Scale bar, 400 µm. F Three-dimensional power Doppler imaging of subcutaneous tumors with or without IRFA and the quantified percentage of blood vessels (PV) (n = 4). G HE staining of lung sections showing lung metastasis and the quantification analysis (n = 5). Scale bar, 500 µm. H Immunohistochemical staining of N-cadherin and E-cadherin in tumor tissues 21 days after IRFA or sham IRFA and the quantified H-score (n = 5). H-score, histochemistry score. Scale bar, 20 µm. (ns, no statistical difference; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001)