Figure 2: Loss of AF6 promotes tumour proliferation and metastasis.
From: Loss of polarity protein AF6 promotes pancreatic cancer metastasis by inducing Snail expression
(a) Phase-contrast images of Bxpc-3 cells stably expressing control (CT) or either of two AF6 shRNAs and grown as 2D, 3D or 3D invasion cultures (Day 10). Black arrows indicate invasive structures. Scale bar, 100 μm. (b) AF6 protein levels in Bxpc-3 cells harbouring control or either of two AF6 shRNAs. (c) The sizes of spheroids in a were measured. Data represent the mean±s.d. (n=30) from three separate experiments. ***P<0.001, Student’s t-test. (d,e) Four-week-old nude mice were orthotopically transplanted with Bxpc-3 control (CT) or Bxpc-3 shAF6 cells (shAF6-1 and shAF6-2) (1 × 106 cells per animal, n=7); tumours were harvested, photographed (d) and weighed at autopsy (Day 60). Results are presented as mean±s.d. (n=5) of calculated tumour weight (e). Scale bar, 1 cm. ***P<0.001, Student’s t-test. (f,g) Liver tissues were photographed, fixed and stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) (f). Black arrows indicate the liver metastatic lesions; the number of metastatic lesions in each specimen was counted (g). Results are presented as mean±s.d. (n=5). ***P<0.001, Student’s t-test. Scale bar, 100 μm.
