Hepcidin production by xenografts. Mice were implanted with human hepatoma xenografts that were either unmodified or transfected with a GFP-expressing vector (GFP transfected) or a vector expressing both GFP and hepcidin (hepcidin transfected). Control tumors include both unmodified and GFP-transfected tumors. (A) Tumor masses, expressed as the percentage of total body weight. (B) Tumor hepcidin mRNA expression by real-time PCR normalized to G3PDH mRNA and shown as a ratio to the median of mice with control tumors. Box and whisker plots represent median, 25% to 75% range, and 10% to 90% range. (C) Urinary hepcidin excretion in mice bearing different types of tumors. Bar graph shows mean and one standard deviation. Significant differences (P < .05) are indicated at the top of each panel.