CCN3 and neoplasm: In nude mouse models, the diminished number of HSC with low expression of α-SMA was found in mice injected with MHCC97H-CCN3-sh cells, meanwhile, diminished subcutaneous tumor weight in nude mouse models was found in the MHCC97H-CCN3-sh group (0.91 ± 0.19 vs. 0.37 ± 0.11 p = 0.0125, Fig. 4c).