Fig. 4

TRF2 over-expression impairs tumor growth and dissemination in advanced orthotopic TNBC models. NSG female immunodeficient mice were orthotopically injected in the mouse mammary gland with 1x10⁶ MDA-MB-231-LUC pBabe and pTRF2 cells. When tumors were palpable (day 10 after cells injection), mice were randomized and treated intravenously with vehicle, or Paclitaxel iv at 20 μg/mouse once a week for two weeks. At the end of the treatment (15 days post treatment) mice were analyzed by the IVIS imaging system 200 series and bioluminescence signals were determined by the number of photons analyzed using the Living image software version 4.3 (PerkinElmer). a Representative pictures of six mice. b Quantitative analyses of bioluminescence signals were shown. Luminescent signals, relative to photons at the beginning of treatment, are expressed as mean of total flux of photons/sec/cm²/steradian (p/s/cm²/sr). Each experimental group included n=8 mice. Error bars represent SEM. P values were calculated using an unpaired two-tailed t-test, ***p<0.001. c,d Fifteen days post treatment, primary tumors were surgically resected and mice treated with Paclitaxel were monitored for lung metastasis appearance by IVIS imaging system 200 series. Representative pictures of six mice, at day 21 post tumor resection c and quantitative analysis of lung metastasis photons d were shown. P values were calculated using an unpaired two-tailed t-test, *p<0.05. e Kaplan-Meier disease free survival curve of mice as in C, with each experimental group included n=8 mice. Statistical significance was assessed by Log-rank test (**p=0.0046)