Fig. 2

hMSCs enhanced tumor growth and apparently metastasis. Significant difference in tumor bioluminescence could be observed at Day 28 between the group of co-transplanted with hMSCs (n = 3) and SK-N-LP alone group (n = 3) detected by Xenogen IVIS 100 in vivo imaging and analyzed by unpaired one-tailed t-test, ^* indicates P = 0.01598 < 0.05 (a(i)). Difference in tumor bioluminescence was not statistically significant between 2 groups at Day 56, P = 0.05378 (n = 3) (a (ii)). Tumors were harvested (both groups) on Day 56 post-transplantation and the group with hMSCs and SK-N-LP co-transplantation showed significantly higher volume (b) and bigger tumor size (c) comparing to the SK-N-LP alone group. Quantified bio-luminescence was analyzed by unpaired one-tailed t-test, ^* indicates P < 0.05. Metastasis observed in harvested organs (lung, liver, gastrointestinal tract, brain and bone) from co-transplantation group was apparently higher than SK-N-LP alone group, although not statistically significant difference at Day 56 post-transplantation by detecting bioluminescent signal of SK-N-LP (representative results) (d). The statistical analysis and data graphs were conducted by GraphPad Prism 5