Figure 6

a One representative image of the IHC analysis of HMGB1 protein expression in CRC (n = 80) tissue sections at different stages (scale bar, 50 μm). b Individual staining intensities are represented by the heat map (up panel). HMGB1 protein expression based on the staining index in nonmalignant adjacent tissues (NAT) and CRC specimens and different clinical stages (down panel). Values are expressed as the mean ± SEM. c Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival according to HMGB1 expression in patients with CRC. d Schematic illustration of plausible molecular mechanistic action of GL in CRC cells. GL is critical for HMGB1-dependent DNA damage response through regulating NHEJ pathway in CRC cells, and targeting this molecule may be beneficial for CRC treatment. **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05.