Fig. 3

Hyperthermia significantly enhanced the anti-tumor-killing activity of radiotherapy against radiation-resistant NPC cells and cancer stem-like cells. A Representative photographs of the morphology of CNE2 cells and radiation-resistant CNE2-8G cells. B Western blot was employed to detect stemness- and EMT-related gene expression in CNE2 and CNE2-8G cells. C CCK-8 assay was performed in CNE2 and CNE2-8G cells. D, E Tumor sphere formation assay was performed in CNE2 and CNE2-8G cells. F–H CCK-8 assay F, colony formation assay G and tumor sphere formation assay H were performed in CNE2 and CNE2-8G cells subjected to irradiation (IR) treatment at 0, 4 and 8Gy. I-K CCK-8 assay I colony formation assay J and tumor sphere formation assay K were performed in CNE2-8G cells treated by hyperthermia (42 °C for 30 min) and IR (4Gy) alone or combined. L qRT-PCR assay for detecting stemness-related gene expression in CNE2-8G cells treated by hyperthermia (42 °C for 30 min) and IR (4Gy) alone or combined