Figure 4 shows micrographs of HCC with and without ECM depletion, immunologically stained for traces of FAM-labelled CSG-IO-NP and FAM-IO-NP and distribution of infiltrating macrophages (CD68+). The micrographs depict higher traces of IO-NP in TNα-CSG-treated HCC compared to CSG-IO-NP in the HCC with intact ECM (Figure 4A). The IO-NP distribution in response to TNFα-CSG treatment exceeds the number of CD68+ macrophages (Figure 4B), suggesting that intratumoral accumulation of IO-NP was independent of phagocytic uptake of the nanoparticles by the infiltrating macrophages. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and hepatocellular carcinoma.