Figure 4

Hltf^-/-/Apc^min/+ mice develop malignant colon tumors that are transplantable into another host. (A) Haematoxylin-eosin staining of representative colon tumors collected from Apc^min/+ mice, showing pronounced tumor growth a pedunculated morphology protruding into the colonic lumen (indicated by arrow). (B) Representative colon tumors collected from Hltf ^-/-/Apc^min/+ mice, demonstrating the formation of numerous mucin-filled cysts within tumors (white arrowheads) and strong desmoplastic stromal reaction. (C) Immuno-staining with anti-β-catenin antibody. Hltf ^-/-/Apc^min/+ colon tumors had stronger and more ubiquitous nuclear-stained β-catenin signals than the tumor cells in Apc^min/+ mice. Arrowheads indicate the tumor cells with nuclear-stained β-catenin. (D) The formation of subcutaneous tumors from derived Hltf ^-/-/Apc^min/+ colon tumor cells in Rag1^-/-/IL2^-/- immunodeficient mice. The subcutaneous tumors displayed neoplastic glandular structures, which contained strong nuclear-stained β-catenin signals and were also positive for Villin, a marker for intestinal epithelial cells. Arrows indicate the tumor, whereas arrowheads mark the subcutaneous muscle layer.