Fig. 3.

Axl knockdown in MDA-MB-231 and PC3ML cells decreases metastasis to the bone. shSCM or shAXL MDA-MB-231 or PC3ML cells, expressing luciferase, were inoculated intracardiacally into 6–8 week-old female and male athymic nu/nu mice, respectively. Tumor seeding and progression was monitored via weekly bioluminescence imaging (BLI). Five weeks later, mice were euthanized. Representative bioluminescence images of mice inoculated with shSCM or shAXL MDA-MB-231 (a) and PC3ML (d) cells at the time of injection, week 3, and week 5. Total flux of intracardiacally injected shSCM and shAXL MDA-MB-231 (b) and PC3ML (e) cells were tracked over 5 weeks. Number of macroscopic metastases in mice inoculated with either shSCM or shAXL MDA-MB-231 (c) and PC3ML (f) cells at endpoint. MDA-MB-231: shSCM, n = 8; shAXL#1, n = 8; shAXL#2, n = 10; PC3ML: shSCM, n = 10; shAXL#1, n = 9; shAXL#2, n = 10. **p = 0.0036, ***p = 0.0006, ****p < 0.00001