Figure 5.

In vivo therapeutic effects and biosafety of GB4-BPL@siCXCR2/pPTEN in EnzR BmCRPC model. (A) Scheme of tumor inoculation, surgical castration and systemic injection (i.v. via the tail vein) of PBS, Free vehicle, GB4-BPL, GB4-BPL@siCXCR2, GB4-BPL@pPTEN, and GB4-BPL@siCXCR2/pPTEN in RM-1 EnzR tumor-bearing male C57BL/6J. Mice were castrated when the tumor volume reached 20-30 mm³ and received injections 3 days later. Injections were performed every 3 days for 5 times. (B) Individual growth curves for mice treated as indicated. (C) Tumor growth measurements show the in vivo therapeutic efficacy (n = 6). (D) Tumor growth index at the end time points from each treatment. (E) Tumor weight of the 6 groups (n = 6). (F) Survival curve of mice in different treatment groups (n = 4). (G)The HE images (200 ×) of the lung, tumor and bone of each group. Red arrow: tumor metastatic sites. (H) Statistical analysis of lung metastasis (n = 4). (I) TUNEL assay was performed to evaluate the apoptosis of tumor cells in each group. TUNEL: green, scale bar = 100 μm. (J) Ki67 staining (green) of tumor tissues in each group. Scale bar = 100 μm. (K-L) Statistical analysis of TUNEL- and Ki67-positive cells (n = 3). (M) The microCT images of each group in 2D and 3D (n = 4, red arrows: bone damaged sites). (N) The BMD values of the BmCRPC-bearing tibias of each group, tumor-free normal tibias were used as control (n = 4). (O) Body weight of mice growth curves (n = 6). (P) The HE images (100 ×) of the heart, liver, spleen, and kidney of each group. Yellow arrow: tumor inflammation site. Data are represented as means ± SD, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001, ns: no significance, one-way ANOVA.