Figure 1. Fbxw7 deletion in BM promotes cancer metastasis in an intravenous tumor cell transplantation model.

(A and B) B16F10 cells were transplanted into Fbxw7^+/fl (n = 7), Fbxw7^fl/fl (n = 8), Mx1-Cre Fbxw7^+/Δ (n = 11), and Mx1-Cre Fbxw7^Δ/Δ (n = 12) mice. The gross appearance of the lungs (A) and their occupancy by tumor colonies (B) were examined. Horizontal bars in B indicate mean values. (C) Kaplan-Meier survival curves for Fbxw7^fl/fl (n = 9) and Mx1-Cre Fbxw7^Δ/Δ (n = 10) mice after injection of B16F10 cells. (D and E) LLC cells were transplanted into Fbxw7^+/fl (n = 4), Fbxw7^fl/fl (n = 5), Mx1-Cre Fbxw7^+/Δ (n = 5), and Mx1-Cre Fbxw7^Δ/Δ (n = 12) mice. (F and G) B16F1 cells were transplanted into Fbxw7^+/fl (n = 9), Fbxw7^fl/fl (n = 8), Mx1-Cre Fbxw7^+/Δ (n = 8), and Mx1-Cre Fbxw7^Δ/Δ (n = 8) mice. Lungs were subjected to H&E staining (D and F), and their gross weight was determined (E and G). (H–J) Metastasis assays performed in WT mice reconstituted with CAG-EGFP Fbxw7^fl/fl (n = 8) or CAG-EGFP Mx1-Cre Fbxw7^Δ/Δ (n = 7) donor BM. (K–M) Metastasis assays performed in Fbxw7^fl/fl (n = 10) or Mx1-Cre Fbxw7^Δ/Δ (n = 12) mice reconstituted with WT donor BM. Schematic representation (H and K), gross appearance of the lungs (I and L), and their occupancy by tumor colonies (J and M) are shown. Scale bars: 10 mm (A, I, and L); 2 mm (D and F). Horizontal bars in B, E, G, J, and M indicate means. ***P < 0.001, 1-way ANOVA and Bonferroni test (B, E, and G) or 2-tailed Student’s t test (J).