Fig. 2

COMP promotes the proliferation of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. a HCC cells were treated with rCOMP at various concentrations (as indicated) and the cell viability were determined using CCK8 assay. The untreated cells was considered to be the control group. n = three independent repeats. P < 0.05 by ANOVA versus control. b Plate colony formation assay was used to confirm the growth promotional effect of rCOMP at various concentrations and the colony foci from three independent experiments were calculated and compared. P < 0.05 by t test versus control. c SMMC-7721 cells with rCOMP or PBS were subcutaneously injected into the mouse flanks to establish subcutaneous tumor models (10 mice each group). After treatments, all mice were observed and the tumor volume was measured and compared. Representative images at × 200 magnification are shown. P < 0.05 by t test versus control. (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01)