Fig. 5

A Viability of MCF-7 spheroids after incubation with different concentrations of DOX, FMHN and FMDHN with and without PTT for 48 h. B Average of diameter of MCF-7 spheroids in different treatment groups. C Images of MCF-7 spheroids incubated in different treatment groups: (i) control, FMHN (4.32 μg/mL), DOX (5 μM), FMDHN (4.32 μg/mL) with and without PTT (Scale bar: 50 μm), (ii) control, FMHN (1.08 μg/mL), DOX (1.25 μM), FMDHN (1.08 μg/mL) with and without PTT (Scale bar: 50 μm), D the effect of DOX, FMHN and FMDHN with and without PTT on the extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms of apoptosis by examining the expression of TNF-α, CASP7, Bcl-2, CASP9, and CASP3 in MCF-7 spheroids. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01 and ^***P < 0.001 indicate significant differences