Fig. 1

Comparative transcriptomics analysis of HCC cell lines intrinsically sensitive (Huh7^WT) or resistant (BCLC-3^WT) to sorafenib. A Dose-response metabolic activity of HCC cells administered with sorafenib. B HCC spheroid cultures demonstrating differential response to sorafenib. Scale bars, 200 μm. C Quantification of the relative area (%) of HCC spheroids carried out using ImageJ software. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM *p ≤ 0.05, **p ≤ 0.01, ***p ≤ 0.001 (Student’s test, two-sided) related to control non-treated cells. D Comparative transcriptomics analysis of HCC cell lines expressed as Volcano plot of log₂ ratio versus – log₁₀ p value of DEGs. E Tag cloud network of 64 enriched genes identified consistently across the transcriptomic profile of sorafenib-resistant BCLC-3^WT cells compared to sorafenib-susceptible Huh7^WT cell line. The font size and colors (green > blue > red) change proportionally according to the average FR. F Classification of cellular functions and canonical pathways of genes differentially up- and down-regulated in resistant BCLC-3^WT (vs. susceptible Huh7^WT) cells as predicted by String software. G Interactome network showing the proteins encoded by mRNAs, which were found down-regulated in BCLC-3^WT cells compared to Huh7^WT cell line and are involved in regulation of cell death process. The color of the line provides evidence of the different interactions among proteins