Fig. 6

Chemo-immunotherapeutic effects of two nanoformulations in orthotopic HCC mouse model. a) Treatment schedule and IVIS images. b) The Hepa1–6-Luc tumor growth over a 32-day period (n = 6, * p < 0.05 and ** p < 0.01). c) Animal survival (median survival: PBS = 35 days, Nano-FdUMP = 41 days, Nano-FdUMP with OxP and FnA = 49 days, and Nano-Folox with 5-Fu = 55 days) (n = 6, *** p < 0.001). d) Immunofluorescent staining of tumors on Day 23 (DNA fragments = green; nuclei = blue) to determine apoptosis (n = 4, * p < 0.05, relative to Nano-Folox/5-Fu). e) Level of CD8⁺ T cells, CD4⁺ T cells, memory CD8⁺ T cells, memory CD4⁺ T cells, activated DCs, MDSCs, Tregs and M2 cells in tumors on Day 23, analyzed by flow cytometry (n = 4, * p < 0.05; NS = no significance). f) The mRNA expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in tumors on Day 23 (n = 4, * p < 0.05; NS = no significance). g) Orthotopic Hepa1–6-Luc tumor growth treated with Nano-FdUMP/Nano-Folox after the removal of CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells (n = 4, * p < 0.05 and ** p < 0.01)