Fig. 2: Gene targeting of PLEKHN1 increases the viability of HT-29 cells in vivo

a Soft agar assay. White dots indicate cancer cell colonies. b The number of the cluster counts derived from the 10³ cell discs. The cluster counts were categorized by size: small cluster(less than 1000 µm²), medium cluster (from 1000 to 2780 µm² (average size)) Large clusters (from average to 10,000 µm²) were significantly increased in PLEK-KO (*P = 0.025, double tail). The increase of the extra large (extraL) clusters (over 10000 µm²) in PLEK-KO was also siginificant (**P = 0.004, double tail). The error bars indicate the standard error. c Mice were subcutaneously injected with 4 × 10⁵ HT-29 or PLEK-KO cells. The images demonstrate the tumors 21 days following injection. The tumors formed by the PLEK-KO cells were larger than those formed by the HT-29 cells. d The tumors derived from PLEK-KO cells were larger than those of the HT-29 cells. The grid size is 1 mm². (E, F) Mice were intraperitoneally injected with either HT-29 or PLEK-KO cells. Images depict mesenteric nodules at 28 days. e The HT-29 cells formed fewer mesenteric nodules compared with those by f PLEK-KO cells. g A hematoxylin-eosin(HE)-stained section of a mesenteric nodule. h The HE-stained section of mesenteric nodules of PLEK-KO cells. The diameter of the nodules was larger than that of those by the parental HT-29 cell. Scale bars indicate 300 µm