Figure 5. BCL9L is the key mediator to regulate the stemness and tumorigenicity of soft tumor cells.

• A
  The expression of BCL9L or β‐catenin in stiff or soft 4T1, MCF‐7, B16, or MP‐1 cells was determined by Western blot.
• B
  The expression of β‐catenin and BCL9L from SGGFP, BCL9L‐SGs‐4T1, MCF‐7, B16, or MP‐1 cells were determined by Western blot.
• C
  500 soft SGGFP or BCL9L‐SGs‐ 4T1, MCF‐7, B16‐F1, or MP‐1 cells were seeded in a 90 Pa soft 3D fibrin gel for 6 days. The number of formed colonies was counted. n = 10.
• D
  The soft SGGFP or BCL9L‐SGs‐ 4T1, MCF‐7, B16, or MP‐1 cells (100 cells) were injected into the mammary fat pads (4T1 and MCF‐7) or subcutaneous tissue (B16 and MP‐1) of NSG mice. Tumor formation was recorded. n = 10 or 12 mice as indicated.
• E, F
  The 100 soft SGGFP or BCL9L‐SGs‐ 4T1, B16, or MP‐1 cells were injected into the mammary fat pads (4T1) of BALB/c mice or tail vein (B16 and MP‐1) of NSG mice. The tumor formation was recorded (E). Six to eight weeks later, the lung sections were H&E stained. The metastatic micronodules in the lung were counted, and the metastasis index was calculated (F). Scale bar, 0.5 mm. n = 3 (for B16‐F1) or 5 (for MP‐1) mice with metastatic tumor.

Data information: Bonferroni test (C and F). The data represent mean ± SD. n = 3 independent experiments in (A and B).

Source data are available online for this figure.