Fig. 1

FZKA sensitized the inhibition effect of Gefitinib on lung cancer both in vitro and in vivo. a Lung cancer cell growth was the most inhibited in the combination group when combined FZKA with Gefitinib. Lung cancer cells (A549 and PC9) were treated with FZKA, Gefitinib, or FZKA combined with Gefitinib, respectively, and cell proliferation assay was performed to detect the cell viability real-time. b Cell colony formation ability was the most inhibited in the combination group when combined FZKA with Gefitinib. Colony formation assay was performed in the lung cancer cells (A549 and PC9) when treated with FZKA, Gefitinib, or FZKA combined with Gefitinib, respectively. Data represent mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.0001; one-way ANOVA. c, d Mice tumor growth generated from lung cancer cell was inhibited by FZKA treatment. PC9 cell carrying luciferase was injected to the nude mice subcutaneously and was then treated with FZKA by intragastric administration. *p < 0.05; Student’s t-test. e, f Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) photos showing the combination of FZKA and Gefitinib group had a additive inhibition effect on lung cancer tumor growth compared to FZKA along or Gefitinib alone group. And tumor volume was measure every other day until the mice tumor in the combination group was totally inhibited. *p < 0.05; one-way ANOVA