Blocking ER-α in liver cancer cells made them much less able to invade through membranes in lab tests, with about 75-80% fewer cells able to move through the barrier.

Blocking ER-α in liver cancer cells made them much less able to invade through membranes in lab tests, with about 75-80% fewer cells able to move through the barrier.

Blocking ER-α in liver cancer cells made them grow much slower in lab tests, with about a third less growth in some tests and half fewer colonies forming in soft agar.

When ER-α was blocked in liver cancer cells, fewer cells were in the DNA-copying phase of the cell cycle and more cells died through programmed cell death.

When ER-α was blocked in liver cancer cells, fewer cells were in the DNA-copying phase and more cells died, which explains why the cells grew slower.

When using a control that doesn't block ER-α, there was no change in cancer cell growth, invasion, or death compared to normal cells.