Sigmaplot graphing software

The experimental data were analyzed at least three times, and the results are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. To determine statistical significance, we used a one-way analysis of variance and subsequently compared the results using Bonferroni’s multiple comparison tests (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, indicating significant differences between the control and treatment groups). For non-normally distributed quantitative data, a comparison between the study and control groups was conducted using the Mann–Whitney test (nonparametric t-test). All statistical comparisons were performed using SigmaPlot graphing software and Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 13 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

The cell numbers in the cell adhesion and cell migration assays were determined using ImageJ software. All data are presented as the mean±S.E.M. of more than three independently repeated experiments. SGSM2 mRNA expression in paired normal vs. tumour tissues from BC patients was compared with paired t-tests. Independent t-tests (Welch’s t-test for heterogeneous variance) were used to compare the differences between two groups, and one-way ANOVA (LSD, Scheffe, and Tukey HSD test for homogeneity of variance; Dunnett T3 and Games-Howell test for heterogeneous variance) was used to compare differences among three or more groups. A Pearson correlation test was used to analyse the correlation of SGSM2 and CDH1 with the expression of various genes; a partial correlation test was used to verify the association among ERBB2, SGSM2, and CDH1 expression in normal tissue samples. All statistical comparisons were performed using Sigma Plot graphing software and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences v.11.0.0 (SPSS). A P-value of 0.05 or less indicated statistical significance.