Xiaotan Sanjie decoction attenuates tumor angiogenesis by manipulating Notch-1-regulated proliferation of gastric cancer stem-like cells

Figure 5 Xiaotan Sanjie decoction inhibits CD44 expression in a dose-dependent manner. A: Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for CD44. CD44 was highly expressed in the cancer cell membrane (original magnification × 400, positive areas are indicated by black arrows); B: The comparison of CD44 in different groups. CD44 was highly expressed in the control CD44⁺ group compared with the rest of the groups and was rarely detected in the control CD44- group. The results also showed that not all of the cells in the CD44⁺ group were CD44 positive. Xiaotan Sanjie decoction inhibited the expression of CD44 in a dose-dependent manner. Statistically significant differences in the expression of CD44 were also detected in the medium- and high-dose groups in CD44⁺ cells (nonparametric tests).