Fig. 6.

Cells with diminished STAT3 expression failed to form tumor or metastasize in vivo. (A) Tumor volumes of the mice bearing xenografts of wild-type (suspension) and PL-treated (5 µM) Panc-1 cells cultured in suspension conditions for 48h. Cell viability of each group was evaluated using trypan blue assay and 5×10⁶ viable cells were injected subcutaneously. Tumor dimensions were measured using vernier calipers. Mice were injected with anchorage-independent untreated or PL-treated Panc-1-luc suspension cells intravenously. Tumor luminescence was measured twice a week by IVIS imaging station. At the end of the experiment, mice were euthanized; organs were excised and imaged using camera as well as IVIS imager station. The bioluminescent images of the organs were brought to same scale. (B) Line graph showing the average bioluminescence of the mice from suspension and PL group. (C) Bioluminescent image of lungs and (D) liver of the mice from suspension and PL group. (E) Images of lungs and (F) images of liver of the mice from suspension and PL group. (G and H) are images of hematoxylin and eosin staining of lungs and liver section respective from suspension and PL groups. (I) p-STAT3 (Y705) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in the lung sections from suspension and PL group. Images were taken at ×40 using Olympus microscope. Values are plotted as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05 compared with suspension group. Arrows indicate presence of metastatic nodules.