Figure 3.

Inhibition of PTEN promoted the growth of orthotopic breast tumors and organ metastases and colonization in mice. PTEN gene (A) and protein (B) levels in 4T1-luc cells were decreased after treatment with 200 or 500 nmol/L VO-OHpic for 2 h. The above cells were inoculated into the breast fat pad of Balb/c mice to establish an in situ tumor model (C) and dissected tumor tissues were imaged at 10 days (D). Tumor metastasis models (F) were established by injection of the above cells via the tail vein, and visceral tumor metastasis was observed at 14 days. Cellular PTEN inhibition by VO-OHpic significantly increased the counts of bioluminescent photons in situ breast tumors (E) and visceral metastases (G). (H) Bioluminescence of some visceral metastases. Compared with 0 nmol/L VO-OHpic group, ^* P<0.05, ^** P<0.01.