Fig. 4. Inecalcitol treatment: LNCaP human prostate tumor xenografts in a murine model system.
LNCaP cells (1×107) were subcutaneously implanted into both flanks of BNX mice (two tumors per mouse). Inecalcitol was given three times per week for 42 days. Murine groups: C, vehicle control (N=5); I, treatment with 1,300 μg/kg of inecalcitol (N=5). *, p<0.05; **, p<0.01 (Aa) Overall volume of tumors. Tumor volumes were assessed by vernier calipers and presented as means and SDs. (Ab) Weights of dissected tumors at day 42. (Ba) Representative dissected tumors; note dark color of control tumors as a result of extensive vascularity. (Bb) Representative H&E, Ki67 and TUNEL staining of dissected tumors. Arrowhead, blood islands in the tumor; small box, magnified picture. The percent of Ki67 positive cells (Bc) and TUNEL positive cells (Bd) were quantified from the stained slides. (Ca) Pim-1 and (Cb) ETV1 mRNA expression levels in the tumors at day 42 were quantitated by qRT-PCR (mean of three tumors).