Fig. 2

GAGE7B enhances the invasion and metastatic ability of gastric cancer cells. a and b. The transwell assay was performed in vitro and the results showed that the migration and invasion ability of BGC823 and AGS cells was significantly enhanced after GAGE7B was overexpressed (t-test, **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05). c-f The influence of GAGE7B on gastric cancer cells’ invasion and metastasis was investigated in vivo. The BGC823 cells were transfected with LV-GV416-GAGE7B or LV-GV416-Negative control with GFP (green fluorescent protein) as a marker protein and then were injected into the left axillary fossa or tail vein of the mice. More stromal invasion incidents of the tumor nodules were observed in GAGE7B group (4/5), compared with negative control group (1/5) (× 100). The red arrow showed that the GAGE7B overexpressing cells invaded into the stroma, the black arrow showed the muscular tissues and the blue arrow showed the lung metastases (c). Metastases could be observed on the surface of the lungs (d). In vivo imaging showed that the metastases were derived from GFP marked gastric cancer cells (e). HE staining showed more lung metastases in GAGE7B group (f) (× 100, t-test, **P < 0.01)