Fig. 1

Sorafenib inhibited the enhanced viability of HCC cells after insufficient RFA. HepG2 cells were treated with insufficient RFA (47 °C 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 20 min and 25 min) gradually. Residual HepG2 (named as HepG2-H) cells surviving from the treatment of 47 °C for 25 min were collected and used for the next experiments. (a) The effect of sorafenib on viability rate of HepG2 and HepG2-H cells was evaluated by MTT assay. Error bars represent the SEM of data obtained in five independent experiments. (b and c) Colony formation abilities of HepG2 and HepG2-H cells after the treatment of sorafenib were assessed. Representive images of the colonies were shown (12.5×) Error bars represent the SEM of data obtained in three independent experiments. P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant; **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001