Figure 3.

AlCl₃ promotes tumorigenesis and lung metastasis in NMuMG cells injected subcutaneously into NSG mice. Five million NMuMG cells cultured for 6 months in the presence of AlCl₃ 100 μM or the equivalent volume of H₂O as control were resuspended in 200 μl of Matrigel and injected subcutaneously into the flank of 6‐week‐old NSG female mice. Five mice/condition were used. The mice were sacrificed 6 weeks after injection. The graphs show (a) the volume of each tumor (calculated according to the formula 4/3π × a × b × c, with a, b, c corresponding each to ½ of the three axis of the tumor, approximated to an ellipsoid, respectively) or (b) the weight of each mouse at the time of sacrifice. Tumor incidence was 100% (all the mice formed tumors). Statistics were as follows. For tumor volume, H₂O versus AlCl₃ 100 μM: p = 0.01, two‐tailed t‐test. For mouse weight, H₂O versus AlCl₃ 100 μM: p = 0.01, two‐tailed t‐test. (c) Macroscopic apical view (upper panel) or ventral view (lower panel) of the lungs of a NSG female mouse injected with AlCl₃‐treated NMuMG cells or H₂O‐treated NMuMG cells, as indicated, at the time of sacrifice.