Fig. 7. LncRNA-PRLB promoted tumorigenesis, metastasis, and chemoresistance in vivo.

MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with shPRLB or pSUPER and injected subcutaneously into nude mice. When the average tumor size reached approximately 100 mm³, 5-FU was administered through intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 50 mg/kg every other day for three doses in total. a Photographs illustrated tumors in xenografts. b Growth curve of xenograft tumors after the first administration of 5-FU. c LncRNA-PRLB knockdown combined with 5-FU treatment resulted in a dramatic decline of tumor weight. d Representative images of H&E and immunohistochemical staining of the tumor. IHC revealed a downregulation of the proliferation index Ki-67 and SIRT1. e Representative images of lungs and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of lungs isolated from mice that received tail vein injection of MDA-MB-231 pcDNA3.1-PRLB cells and MDA-MB-231 pcDNA3.1 cells. Each group contains six mice. f The number of pulmonary metastatic nodules in the lung were counted and analyzed with Student’s t test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001