Figure 3

c-FOXP3 affecting tumor size in PDAC involves Treg cells accumulation. (a) The real distribution of primary tumor size (T) between c-FOXP3 high and low expression groups (n=120, *P<0.05 by χ² test. T: T1, tumor limited to the pancreas, 2 cm or less in greatest dimension. T2, tumor limited to the pancreas, >2 cm in greatest dimension. T3, Tumor extends beyond the pancreas but without involvement of the celiac axis or the superior mesenteric artery. (b) Experimental scheme for subcutaneous carcinoma model of C57BL/6 mice (top). Tumor volumes and weights for both groups of C57BL/6 mice (bottom). Pan02-pLKO-Control, n=8; Pan02-pLKO-FOXP3, n=8; *P<0.05 by paired Student’s t-test. (c) IHC staining of FOXP3 and Ki67 in both groups of tumor sections. Magnification: × 200. (d) Flow cytometry analysis of Treg cells accumulation in the tumor microenvironment of C57BL/6 murine model. Representative results were shown (left). Summary data were provided for each group except one undetectable because of operational factors (right, *P<0.05 by paired Student’s t-test). (e) Summary data of flow cytometry analysis of CD8⁺T cells percentage and apoptotic CD8⁺T cells in the tumor microenvironment of C57BL/6 murine model (**P<0.01 by paired Student’s t-test). (f) Experimental scheme for subcutaneous carcinoma model of C57BL/6 mice: CD25 antibody was injected at days -2, 1 and 21 intravenously. Tumor volume and weight of the C57BL/6 mice for both groups. (P>0.05 by paired Student’s t-test). (g) The distribution of the primary tumor size (T) among three c-FOXP3/Treg cells groups (only four cases exhibit low c-FOXP3/high Treg cells and fail to make statistical analysis. n=116, **P=0.001 by χ² test).