Fig. 3

Olaparib and Oligo-Fucoidan synergistically inhibit TNBC cell stemness. A, B Mammosphere formation abilities of MDA-MB-231 cells (A) (n = 6–10) and 4T1 cells (B) (n = 7–10) were analyzed in response to olaparib (50 μM) and/or Oligo-Fucoidan (500 μg/ml) treatment for 16 and 5 days, respectively. C The mRNA expression levels of EpCAM, Nanog and ALDH1A1 in MDA-MB-231 mammospheres (Day 16) were quantified by qRT–PCR (n = 5). D EpCAM(+) subpopulations in MDA-MB-231 mammospheres (Day 14) were examined by flow cytometry after the indicated treatments (n = 4–5). E, F CD44(+)/CD24(−) subpopulations were analyzed in MDA-MB-231 mammospheres (Day 14) (E) and 4T1 mammospheres (Day 5) (F) after the indicated treatments. The data are expressed as the mean ± SD. One-way ANOVA with Duncan’s test was used to determine statistical significance