Fig. 1

Ferrichrome reduced the progression of colorectal cancer cells derived from primary or metastatic lesions. An SRB assay revealed that the numbers of colorectal cancer cells (Caco2/bbe, HCT116, SW-480 and HT29 cells, SK-CO-1 and SW-620 cells) were significantly lower in the ferrichrome groups than in the control group (n = 6) (a). The tumor volume and weight b in mice transplanted with SW620 cells were significantly decreased by the intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg of ferrichrome without a decrease in the body weight c (0 mg/kg; n = 7, 5 mg/kg; n = 6). The tumor volume and weight d of mice transplanted with HCT116 cells were significantly decreased by the intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg of ferrichrome (0 mg/kg; n = 5, 5 mg/kg; n = 6). The proportion of TUNEL-positive organoids e was significantly increased in the ferrichrome group compared to the control group. *p < 0.05 by a two-way ANOVA followed by Ryan’s post hoc test (A, B, D). *p < 0.05 by Student’s t-test (c, e). The error bars show the standard deviation (S.D.)