**Abbreviations**

transactivate the early growth response-1 (Egr-1) transcription factor. Thus, the ionizing radiation exposure causes stress-induced IGF-1R-Src-Mek-Erk-Egr-1 activation that regulates the

**Figure 2.** Inhibition of sCLU gene transcription by specific shRNA-1 on effects of forming time, growth curve and size of orthotopic xenograft tumors. The control, neg-shRNA, or sCLU-shRNA groups were injected with the plasmid contained specific shRNA-1 into nude mice. (A) The forming time of the orthotopic xenograft tumors from each group. (B) The growth curves of the xenograft tumors from each group. And the tumor volumes were measured at the indicated time point. (C) The representative photographs of the nude mice and corresponding dissected tumors from each group. 1 and 2, the xenografts in the control group; 3 and 4, the xenografts in the neg-shRNA group; 5 and 6, the xenografts in the sCLU-shRNA group. The data are presented as the mean ± SD. Compared with the control group, \*\**P* < 0.01.

The inhibition of sCLU gene transcription by specific shRNA-1 on effects of forming time, growth curve, and size of orthotopic xenograft tumors after sacrifice of the mice at the 34th day with injection are shown in **Figure 2**. The mean weight of the xenograft tumors in the shRNA-1 group was significantly less than that of the control or NC-shRNA group, respectively. The curves of xenograft tumor growth indicated that tumor sizes in the shRNA-1 group with lower mRNA level were significantly smaller less than those of the control or NC-shRNA group [31, 46]. Consistently, the sCLU protein expression in the shRNA-1 group was also

sCLU prosurvival cascade pathway for radiation resistance in HCC therapy [60].

**5.4. Suppressed HCC growth in vivo by silencing sCLU**

140 Hepatocellular Carcinoma - Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment

AFP alpha-fetoprotein HCC hepatocellular carcinoma IHC immunohistochemistry MDR multiple drug resistance

