Fig. 7

In vivo evaluation of the anti-metastasis effect of Cu–DHN (Cu:DHN:Cys = 0.6:1:0.2). a Schematic illustration of the mechanism by which Cu–DHN inhibits lung metastasis through systemic antitumor immunity induction. b Lung wet weight and c number of pulmonary metastatic nodules quantified 14 days post-treatment (n = 5). d Representative digital images of lung tissues and histological sections obtained at 14 days post-treatment (the red circles indicate metastatic pulmonary nodules). e Survival rate analysis of 4T1 tumor-bearing mice with pulmonary metastasis following Cu–DHN treatment (n = 8). Quantitative CD8⁺ T cells in f CD3⁺ T cells and g all cells obtained from primary tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) from mice at 3 days post-treatment (n = 3). h TNF-α and (i) IFN-γ contents in serum from mice at 3 days post-treatment (n = 4). j Lung wet weight and metastatic nodule enumeration at 14 days post Cu–DHN administration with concomitant lymphocyte depletion (n = 5). k Survival rate analysis of mice with lung metastasis of 4T1 tumors after Cu–DHN treatment along with lymphocyte depletion (n = 8). Data are represented as mean ± SD