Fig. 5

Knockdown of miR-193a or restoration of TGF-β2/TGF-βRIII signaling blocks cancer repopulation and metastasis. a Repopulation of PANC-1 reporter cells co-cultured with the corresponding feeder cells (±X-ray). n = 4. Left, representative bioluminescence images. Central, luciferase activity (photons/s). Right, representative fluorescent images. Scale bar, 1 mm. ***p < 0.001. b & c Repopulation of the stimulated SW1990 and PANC-1 reporter cells co-cultured with the corresponding feeder cells treated with or without TGF-β2 cytokine b or neutralization antibody c; (±X-ray). n = 4. Left, representative bioluminescence images. Central, luciferase activity (photons/s). Right, representative fluorescent images. Scale bar, 1000 μm. d Knockdown of miR-193a blocked pancreatic cancer repopulation in vivo (±X-ray). n = 5. Left & central, representative bioluminescence images in indicated time. Right, tumor growth curve of pancreatic cancer on X-ray radiation. e Liver metastasis of the untreated (PANC-1-hU6shR-NC) and the irradiated (PANC-1-hU6miR-193a-IN vs PANC-1-hU6shR-NC) tumor-bearing mice. Left, photograph of the dissected liver, n = 5. Scale bar, 1 cm. Central, numbers of liver nodules. Right, liver metastasis rate. f The tumor-bearing mice survival curve on X-ray radiation, n = 9