Fig. 7

LEV effect on Caspase-3 expression in GCSCs and PCSCs. GCSCs from patient #4 and PCSCs from patient #6 were treated with TMZ (250 µM), LEV (40 μg/mL) and a combination of TMZ and LEV for 48 h. A panels a–d Caspase-3 expression was evaluated in GCSCs from patient #4 by immunofluorescence analysis. Confocal microscopy micrographs showing Caspase-3 (green) in untreated control cells (a), TMZ treated cells (b), LEV treated cells (c) and LEV + TMZ treated cells (d). B Cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts from GCSCs (patient #4) were evaluated for Caspase-3 expression by Western blot analysis. A representative immunoblot is shown. C Densitometric analysis of Caspase-3 expression levels of three indipendent experiments normalized using Stain free technology. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. D panels a–d Caspase-3 expression was evaluated in PCSCs from patient #6 by immunofluorescence analysis. Confocal microscopy micrographs showing Caspase -3 (green) in untreated control cells (a), TMZ treated cells (b), LEV treated cells (c) and LEV + TMZ treated cells (d). E Cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts from PCSCs (patient #6) were evaluated for Caspase-3 expression by Western blot analysis. A representative immunoblot is shown. F Densitometric analysis of Caspase-3 expression levels of three indipendent experiments normalized using Stain free technology. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant