Figure 9.

In vivo efficacy of TRAIL combined with AuNPs in a BALB/c nude mice model of NSCLC.

Notes: (A) Tumor volume was measured weekly after treatment with PBS (control), TRAIL (10 mg/kg), AuNPs (100 μg), or TRAIL (10 mg/kg) + AuNPs (100 μg). Values are mean ± SD (n=10). (B) Representative images of tumor mass derived from different treatments are shown. (C) Sections of tumor tissues with different treatments were stained with H&E (top panel). Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expressions of Ki67 in tumor tissues (middle panel). Fluorescent TUNEL labeling for analysis of apoptosis of tumor tissues derived from different treatments (bottom panel). Magnification ×100. (D) Quantification of Ki67- and TUNEL-positive cells in tumor tissues. TRAIL combined with AuNPs reduces tumor growth due to a lower number of proliferating cells or higher apoptotic cells as compared to the control. *P<0.05, compared to TRAIL-treated group.

Abbreviations: AuNPs, gold nanoparticles; H&E, hematoxylin and eosin; NSCLC, non-small-cell lung cancer; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; SD, standard deviation; TRAIL, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand; TUNEL, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling.