Fig. 4

Overexpression of GINS4 promotes cancer cell growth, migration and invasion. a and b MTT assay was performed to assess the viability of (a) PC9 and (b) H358 lung cancer cells overexpressing GINS4 (n = 3). c and d Plate colony formation assay was performed to determine the colony formation ability of GINS4-overexpressing (c) PC9 and (d) H358 cells. Relative colony number is shown as a bar graph (mean ± SD of three separate experiments) in the upper region, and a representative image of the colony number is shown in the lower region. e and f A representative image showing the migration (e) and invasion (f) of GINS4-overexpressing PC9 and H358 cells (n = 3). g and h Western blotting analysis detected EMT-related proteins in GINS4-overexpressing (g) PC9 and (h) H358 cells (n = 3). i High-content screening and analysis were performed to detect the intensity of E-cadherin and vimentin staining in PC9 (left) and H358 (right) cells stably expressing a control vector or GINS4 (n = 4). j The GINS4 expressing sublines and control cells were plated in ultra-low-attachment dishes to allow tumor sphere formation (left). The fold changes of spheres formed by both the GINS4 expressing cells and control cells are shown in the right panel (n = 3). k-m A xenograft nude mouse model was established, and the volume of tumors derived from GINS4-overexpressing PC9 cells or control cells was determined at indicated time points (k). Images showing the size (l) and weight (m) of tumors isolated from nude mice injected with GINS4-expressing PC9 cells or control cells. n-p A xenograft nude mouse model was established, and the volume of tumors derived from GINS4-overexpressing PC9 cells or control cells was determined at indicated time points (n). o and p Images showing the size (o) and weight (p) of tumors isolated from nude mice injected with GINS4-expressing H358 cells or control cells. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001