Figure 5. Combination of BCL2L1 inhibitor with radiation therapy decreases breast cancer tumor growth.
(A) Briefly, 1 × 105 4T1 cells (mixed with Matrigel in 1:1 ratio) were subcutaneously injected into the right flank of 6-wk-old female BALB/cJ mice. Mice were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 8) and were treated with vehicle control (phosphate-buffered saline), radiation (a single dose of 5 Gy), inhibitor A-1331852, or the combination treatment. 25 kg/mg A-1331852 was given by oral gavage daily for 2 wk except for 2 d without treatment at the end of each week. Tumor sizes were measured twice a week starting at 6 d after injection. Representative tumors in each group were photographed at the endpoint. (B) The tumor volume (V) was calculated by the formula V = 1/2 × length × width2. Tumor growth curves of different treatment groups are presented. The tumor volumes shown at each point were the average from six tumors. ***P < 0.001 (unpaired t test). (A, C) Ki-67 (proliferation) and cleaved caspase-3 (apoptosis) staining were conducted in tumors shown in (A).