Fig. 5

Pharmacological inhibition of SMYD3 suppresses OSCC cells growth and impedes the chemical-induced primary OSCC formation. A The ability of secondary tumorsphere formation was significantly reduced in BCI-121-treated OSCC cells relative to cells treated with vehicle. Representative images were shown. Scale bars: 50 μm. B The colony formation potential was inhibited following BCI-121 treatment as compared to vehicle treatment. C The ability of proliferation was suppressed in BCI-121-treated OSCC cells relative to cells treated with vehicle. Representative images were shown. Scale bars: 50 μm. D Western blotting analyses showing that c-MYC, BMI1, NANOG, SOX2 and H3K4me3 protein expression were decreased in BCI-121-treated CAL-27 and UM-SCC-1 cells. E Subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice of BCI-121 treatment and vehicle groups (n = 6/group). F, G Tumor weight and tumor growth curves in the nude mouse xenograft model. H IHC staining for Ki67 in xenografts (n = 6/group). Scale bars: 50 μm. I Western blotting analyses showing that SOX2 protein expression was decreased in BCI-121 group than in vehicle group in vivo. J Experimental design of 4NQO-induced OSCC animal model and BCI-121 treatment. K Representative images of tongue lesions at 23 weeks after treatment (n = 7/group). Scale bars: 1.5 mm. L Quantification of lesion areas visible in the tongue from BCI-121 treatment and vehicle groups. M IHC staining for Ki67 in OSCC tissues (n = 7/group). Scale bars: 50 μm. *P < 0.05, **P ≤ 0.01, and ***P ≤ 0.001