Fig. 8: Targeting MLL1 inhibits cancer cell motility in vitro and tumor metastasis progression in vivo.

a The effects of MLL1 silencing on cell migration and invasion in MDA-MB-231 cells. The migration (left panel) and invasion (right panel) were assessed with Boyden chamber assay (n = 3). Migrated or invaded cells were quantified and normalized to the mean of the NT control group. The floating bar graph depicts the sample mean, maximum and minimum values. Values from each replicate are indicated as dots on the plot. Statistical significance was assessed using a one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni multiple comparisons adjustment (p < 0.0001 for both panels). b Images of cell migration (top panels) and invasion (low panels) for MDA-MB231 cells with and without MLL1 knockdown. Scale bar: 100 µm. c Cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells with NT control and MLL1 knockdown was measured by SBC assay (n = 6 per group). The line graph depicts the mean ± SD. Data were analyzed as panel a (No statistical significance was detected). d FACS measurement of CD44 + high/CD24-low cell population in MDA-MB231 cells with and without MLL1 knockdown. e Results of tumor formation and growth of MDA-MB-231 NT and MDA-MB-231 shMLL1 cells in NSG mice (n = 8 per group). Tumor growth was analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons (p = 0.9). The average tumor weights at the endpoints are also shown inside the panel as a violin plot and display points for values from each animal. f IHC staining of the primary tumors from the engraftment of MDA-MB-231 NT and MDA-MB-231 shMLL1 cells. Representative image, n = 5 for each tumor. Scale bar: 100 µm. g Quantification of metastatic lesions in two groups of tumors derived MDA-MB-231 NT or MDA-MB-231 shMLL1 cells implanted in NSG mice (n = 8 per group). Average metastatic lesion numbers from five serial sections in each tumor were normalized to the total surface area of the lung section. Data were analyzed as panel a (p < 0.001). h Representative H&E staining pictures of the lung metastatic lesions. Arrows point to metastatic lesions in the lungs. Scale bar: 100 µm. For all panels, source data were provided in Source data 1.