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. 2015 May;185(5):1471–1486. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2015.01.029

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Orthotopic murine (4T1) mammary tumor growth and metastasis to the lung are limited by type III collagen (Col3). A: Tumor growth was measured in 4T1 tumor-bearing (0.1 × 106 cells injected) female Col3+/+ and Col3+/− mice using calipers. B: To compare the cumulative pattern of tumor growth, the area under the curve was calculated for each tumor. C: The mass of the tumors was determined at the time of sacrifice (day 24). D and E: Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) sections of lungs from Col3+/+ and Col3+/− mice bearing orthotopic 4T1 tumors. Arrows point to metastatic nodules. Inset is magnified in E. F: Gross metastases were counted on lung lobe surfaces. G: The number of metastatic nodules within H&E-stained sections of all five bisected lung lobes of 4T1-bearing Col3+/+ and Col3+/− mice, as assessed by a board-certified pathologist (E.A.M.). H: Lung metastatic tumor burden (tumor area over total lung area) was calculated from the same images in G using ImageJ software. Representative data from five independent experiments with the injection of 0.1 to 5.0 × 106 cells all show increased metastases in Col3+/− animals (quantitative data shown after orthotopic injection of 0.1 × 106 4T1 cells). Data represent means ± SEM (A–C and F–H). n = 7 to 10 mice per genotype (A–C and F–H). ∗P < 0.05 (A–C and F–H).