Fig. 4. Docetaxel decreases the maximum ²³Na signal detected within MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumours.

Following orthotopic MDA-MB-231 cell implantation, Rag2^−/− Il2rg^−/− mice were randomised to receive either docetaxel (10 mg/kg) or vehicle i.p. once weekly. a Representative ¹H TurboRARE and ¹H/²³Na 2D cartesian (merge) images for docetaxel and vehicle-treated mice at week 4 post implant; regions of interest (ROIs) for tumour (white dash) and NaCl phantom (50 mM, yellow dash) are annotated. Mean (b) and maximum (c) ²³Na signals measured from tumour ROI at weeks 2, 3 and 4 post xenograft implantation (normalised to phantom to provide a concentration measurement. Vehicle, week 2, n = 7; week 3, n = 6; week 4, n = 7. Docetaxel, week 2, n = 9; week 3, n = 8; week 4, n = 7). d Effect of docetaxel on tumour ADC (Vehicle, week 2, n = 5; week 3, n = 6; week 4, n = 7. Docetaxel, week 2, n = 6; week 3, n = 8; week 4, n = 7). e Effect of docetaxel treatment on tumour growth rate (vehicle, n = 6 for all timepoints. Docetaxel, week 2, n = 8; week 3, n = 8; week 4, n = 5. Volume measured by multislice (1 mm) ¹H TurboRARE imaging. f Representative images of Ki67/DAPI stained tissue tumour sections. g Ki67-positive nuclei (vehicle, n = 5; docetaxel, n = 7; 2–10 regions each section). h Nuclei counts (vehicle, n = 5; docetaxel, n = 6; 1–10 regions each section). Data represent group mean ± SEM. P-values for significant differences between groups calculated using an unpaired, two-tailed Student’s t test (b–e) or an unpaired, two-tailed nested t test (g, h).