Fig. 7

Inhibitors targeting GSH and NAC metabolism abrogated the pro-oncogenic effects exerted by NAC and GSH. a A schematic summary of SSA and BSO. b The relative cell numbers, (c) the relative numbers of spheres, and (d) relative ROS levels of MHCC-97L and Hep3B cells after treatment with NAC, GSH and the indicated inhibitors. Data were normalized and compared to the control and expressed as mean ± SD from three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001; Unpaired t-test. e A schematic summary of BSO treatment in vivo. f MHCC-97L-derived orthotopic HCC xenograft tumors and their tumor masses after GSH, BSO and BSO + GSH treatment after tumor onset in nude mice. g Representative flow cytometry histogram and quantification of the intracellular ROS levels in control, GSH, BSO, BSO + GSH treated tumors. h MHCC-97L-derived orthotopic HCC xenograft tumors and their tumor masses after NAC, SSA and SSA + NAC treatment after tumor onset in nude mice. i Representative Flow cytometry histogram and quantification of the intracellular ROS levels in control, NAC, SSA, SSA + NAC treated tumors. Error bars indicate mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. NTC or control. one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett comparison test