SOX2 and neoplasm: Quantitative gene expression analysis of HCC70 xenografts showed a significant increase of MCSC markers (Aldh1 and Sox2) of tumor cell (human) origin in the NIC plus HFD group, compared to the control saline group: Aldh1 (hAldh1: 5.6 ± 0.5-fold, p ≤ 0.01; mAldh1: 2.4 ± 0.2-fold, p ≤ 0.05) and Sox2 (hSox2: 4.8 ± 0.6-fold, p ≤ 0.01; mSox2: 2.2 ± 0.2-fold, p ≤ 0.05) (Figure 1(e)).