Aciculatin anti-cancer activity in the HCT116 xenograft models.

<p>HCT116 cells were injected subcutaneously into the flanks of severe combined immunodeficient mice. The mice were divided into two groups (<i>n</i> = 5) and when the tumors reached the average volume (90 mm³) the treatment was initiated. The mice were sacrificed on day 12 thereafter. A, The curves show the mean (±SE) tumor sizes measured within each group. The differences in tumor size between the control and treated mice were statistically significant (*<i>P</i><0.05). Bodyweight was measured every day from day 1 of administration. There were no significant differences after treatment in any of the groups (data not shown). B, Treated and untreated tumor slices were assessed by H&E (a, b) and IHC staining for p53 protein (c, d) and Ki-67 protein (e, f). Tumor samples were observed under 100× (for H&E) and 200× (for IHC) magnification. C, The tumor tissue slices were assessed by TUNEL assay kit and the bar charts indicates the fold change of sub-G1 phase. **<i>P</i><0.01.