Fig. 4

Knocking-down EIF4A2 improves sensitivity of CRC cells to oxaliplatin. a, b IHC was performed to quantify the expression of EIF4A2 in 74 advanced CRC patients receiving oxaliplatin-based regimens as the first-line chemotherapy. Time to progression and overall survival were generated by the Kaplan-Meier method (log-rank test). c High EIF4A2 expression indicated poor response to oxaliplatin-based regimens. 36.8% of CRC patients with high EIF4A2 expression were evaluated as PD, while 11.1% of CRC patients with low EIF4A2 expression were PD. d EIF4A2 and C-MYC mRNA levels significantly increased in HCT116/OXA cells. e Western blots showed that EIF4A2 obviously increased in HCT116/OXA cells. f The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of oxaliplatin significantly decreased in HCT116 and DLD1 cells stably knocking-down EIF4A2. g The apoptosis rate induced by oxaliplatin in HCT116 and DLD1 cells with EIF4A2 knockdown was significantly higher. h, i, k The shEIF4A2–1 stably transduced cells treated with oxaliplatin showed the most significant reduction in tumor weight and volume. j, l IHC staining showed that the number of KI67-positive cells decreased most significantly in the shEIF4A2–1 stably transduced cells treated with oxaliplatin. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01 versus the control