Fig. 7: EMT reversal in MpBC human tumor biopsies after L-NMMA+taxane therapy.

A Representative immunofluorescence images of tumor biopsy for patient 100-013 (responder) and B patient 100-009 (non-responder) stained for Zeb1 (red), E-cadherin (green), ALDH1 (green), and DAPI (blue). Images magnification ×10; scale bars represent 100 µM. Corrected total cell fluorescence analysis quantified using ImageJ software for C Zeb1, D E-cadherin, E ALDH1 in patient tumor biopsies at baseline (BL) and end-of-treatment (EOT). Immunofluorescence analysis was obtained from 5 images per slide captured from tissues to cover the entire tissue bed. Statistical analysis by two-sided Student’s t test. Bars and error bars represent ±SD F Ratio of E-cadherin/Zeb expression (corrected total cell fluorescence) in patient tumor biopsies at BL and EOT. Statistical analysis was performed by Student’s t test. Red and blue bars indicate data for BL and EOT corrected total cell fluorescence, respectively. R2-R4 indicate responder patients, and NR1-NR6 indicate non-responder patients. G Schematic represents a potential mechanism of action of NOS inhibition inducing EMT reversal. iNOS inducible nitric oxide synthase; EMT epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; JNK c-Jun N-terminal kinase; PI3K phosphoinositide 3-kinase; TGFB1 transforming growth factor beta 1; LCN2 lipocalin AP-1 activator protein 1. Figure created with Biorender.com.