Fig. 4.

Breast cancer metastasis is attenuated by targeting the TXA₂ pathway. a Murine 4T1 tumor cells spontaneously metastasize from the primary tumor (mammary gland) to the lung. Immunohistochemical staining showed that metastatic foci in lung strongly express TBXAS1. b Compared with parental cells, 4T1sub-line cells isolated from lung metastatic foci generally express much higher levels of TBXAS1. c Knockdown of TBXAS1 decreases the ability of 4T1 cells to metastasize to the lung. Data are presented as mean values ± S.E.M. (n = 6). The asterisks indicate a significant difference compared with Mock control (**p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001). d Ectopic expression of TBXAS1 increases the ability of 4T1 cells to metastasize to the lung. Data are presented as mean values ± S.E.M. (n = 6). The asterisks indicate a significant difference compared with vector control (**p < 0.01). e Pharmacological blockage of TXA₂ biosynthesis suppresses breast cancer metastasis to the lung. Drug treatment: 1, vehicle; 2, aspirin (100 mg/kg); 3, indomethacin (1 mg/kg); 4, celecoxib (10 mg/kg); 5, ozagrel sodium (100 mg/kg), 6, fish oil (500 mg/kg). Data are presented as mean values ± S.E.M. (n = 10). The asterisks indicate a significant difference compared with vehicle control (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001)