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Figure 2. HIF-2α silencing reduces chemoresistance of CSCs. A: viability was assessed of HIF-2α silenced or a non-targeting control siRNA treated U87-CSCs at 48 h following incubation with the hypoxia mimetic, DFX, and the DNA alkylating agent TMZ. Values were normalized to a control of non-targeting siRNA and no TMZ, which is also the comparison group for statistics; *P < 0.05, n = 3. B: phase contrast microscopy of CSCs treated with non-targeting or HIF-2α siRNA and/or TMZ treated depicts an altered morphology upon HIF-2α siRNA treatment. C: neurosphere formation in the presence of DFX after seven days following a 48-h treatment with HIF-2α and/or TMZ. Data were normalized to cells treated with a non-targeting control siRNA, which is also the comparison group for statistics; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, n = 3. siRNA: short interfering RNA; HIF: hypoxia inducible factor; CSC: cancer stem cell; DFX: deferoxamine mesylate; TMZ: temozolomide