Fig. 1

Effects of ropivacaine on CSC-like phenotypes of breast cancer cells in vitro. A CD44⁺/CD24.⁻ subpopulation in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 treated with ropivacaine (10 μM) or negative control for 48 h was measured by FACS analysis. B Mammosphere formation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 treated with ropivacaine (10 μM) or negative control for 48 h (scale bar = 100 μm). C-D Migration and invasion of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 treated with ropivacaine (10 μM) or negative control for 48 h were examined by transwell assays (scale bar = 100 μm). E Stem cell markers (CD133, OCT4, SOX2) in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 treated with ropivacaine (10 μM) or negative control for 48 h were analyzed by western blot. F Cell viability of ropivacaine (10 μM)- or negative control-treated MCF-7/ADR cells exposed to the indicated concentration of ADR. G Cell apoptosis of ropivacaine (10 μM)- or negative control-treated MCF-7/ADR cells exposed to ADR (10 μM) were assessed by FACS analysis. Results are shown are shown as mean ± S.D from at least three independent experiments. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 (Two-way ANOVA test in F, others unpaired two-tailed Student’s t test)