Figure 5. AIM2 knockdown suppresses growth and vascularization of human cSCC xenografts.

(A) cSCC cells (UT-SCC7) were transfected with AIM2 siRNA_6 or control siRNA (75 nM). 72 hours after transfection, cells (5×10⁶) were injected subcutaneously into the back of SCID mice (n=8 for each group) and the size of tumors was measured twice a week (mean ± SEM). (B) Tumors were harvested after 21 days, embedded in paraffin and stained with H&E (upper panels), for proliferation marker Ki-67 (middle panels), and for vascular endothelial marker CD34 (lower panels). (C) The percentages of Ki-67-positive tumor cells in xenografts were counted (mean ± SEM). (D) The density of CD34-positive blood vessels in xenografts was determined in each tumor. Scale bar=100μm (*P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001; Student's t-test).