Re-expression of miR-214 significantly inhibits cell growth in vitro and tumorigenic properties of HCC cells.

<p>(A and B) Growth of HLE (A) and SK-HEP-1 (B) cells <i>in vitro</i> at different time points following the re-expression of miR-214 mediated by transfection with P-miR-214, *<i>P</i><0.05. (C) Stable expression of miR-214 inhibited the anchorage-independent growth of SK-HEP-1 cells in soft agar. The upper section shows images of colony formation. The bar graph below the figures showed the mean number of colonies formed (± SD) and counted under the microscope in three randomly selected fields (magnification, ×40). *<i>P</i><0.05. (D) Stable expression of miR-214 inhibited tumorigenicity of SK-HEP-1 cells. The upper section showed images of the tumors obtained in mice at the end of the eighth week. The bar graph indicated the average of overall tumor volume measured each week (n = 6 mice per group).