Fig. 1

In situ CXCR2 expression in HCC tumors. a Representative images show CXCR2⁺ cells stained brown in non-tumor (NT), peri-tumoral stroma (PS), and intra-tumor (IT) regions in HCC tissues. Black arrows indicate CXCR2⁺ cells. b The densities of CXCR2⁺ cells in the NT, PS, and IT regions of HCC tissues were calculated (n = 259). Results are expressed as means ± SEM (bars) of each group. c Multiple stains for CD15, CD68, CD3, or S100 (red), CXCR2 (green), and DAPI (blue) in paraffin-embedded sections were developed using a TSA system. White arrows indicate representative cells that express CXCR2. d Vectra-Inform image analysis of the proportion of CXCR2⁺ cells among CD15⁺, CD68⁺, CD3⁺, or S100⁺ cells in HCC tissues (n = 30). Results are expressed as means ± SEM (bars). e Proportions of CD15⁺, CD68⁺, CD3⁺, or S100⁺ cells among CXCR2⁺ cells in HCC tissues (n = 30). Results are expressed as means ± SEM (bars); *, P <0.05; **, P <0.01; ***, P <0.001