Blockage of PROCR intracellular signaling impedes clonogenicity of breast cancer cells.
a and b, colonies formed from PDX-1 single cells were dissolved from Matrigel for imaging. Representative pictures are shown. Knockdown of PROCR abolished colony formation (a). F2R inhibitor (sch79797) or Src inhibitor (KX2–391) attenuated colony formation, and the combined treatment completely blocked colony formation (b). Scale bars, 20 μm. c and d, quantification indicating that colony formation efficiency (c) and colony sizes (d) are significantly reduced when PROCR or its downstream signaling component is inhibited. The combined treatment of F2R inhibitor and IGF-1R inhibitor completely blocked colony formation, similar to the effect of PROCR knockdown. **, p < 0.002; ***, p < 0.0001. Data are pooled from three independent experiments. Data are presented as mean ± S.E. e, the model of PROCR signaling mechanisms in breast cancer cells.