The Role of Alpha 6 Integrin in Prostate Cancer Migration and Bone Pain in a Novel Xenograft Model
Figure 2
SCID Mouse xenograft model and quantification of bone destruction after injection of prostate cancer cells into the femoral intramedullary space.
(A) Radiographic images were taken to verify needle placement inside the intramedullary space of the femur up to the distal third of the bone (left panel). The tumor cells were sealed into the bone (right panel). (B) Radiographic images taken at 21 days after injections indicating bone loss either from untreated mice (Control) or mice injected with tumor cells expressing the wildtype integrin (PC3N-A6-WT) or the mutated integrin (PC3N-A6-RR). (C) Quantification of bone loss in animals either sham injected (Control) or injected with tumor cells expressing the wildtype integrin (PC3N-A6-WT) or the mutated integrin (PC3N-A6-RR). Bone loss was rated according to the following 5 point scale: 0 = normal, 1 = bone loss observed in less than half of the distal third of the bone, 2 = bone loss observed in more than half of the distal third of the bone, no fracture, 3 = full thickness unicortical bone loss indicating unicortical bone fracture, 4 = full thickness bicortical bone loss indicating bicortical bone fracture. (D) The percent of mice with fracture 21 days following surgery. The number of mice in each group was twelve.