Fig. 2

Dying tumor cell-released exosomes potentiate survival of the ALDH1A1⁺ TRCs. a Statistically significantly changed genes detected by qPCR array in 10Gy irradiated PANC-1 cells compared with unirradiated cells. b Percentage of ALDH⁺ cells in PANC-1 cells after 10Gy radiation. c Percentage of ALDH⁺ cells in unirradiated or 10Gy irradiated primary pancreatic cancer cells. d qPCR detection of ALDH1A1 in unirradiated or 10Gy irradiated SW1990 and PANC-1 cells. e Representative images (left) and quantifications (right) of IHC staining of ALDH1A1 in PDX tissues that were untreated, treated with radiation or radiation plus GW4869. Scale bar: 50 μm. f Percentage of GFP⁺ cells in SW1990 and PANC-1 tracing cells. Cells were induced with 4-OHT, 10Gy irradiated, and treated with or without GW4869. g Relative survival rate of the isolated GFP⁺ cells. GFP⁺ cells isolated from the tracing SW1990 cells were 10Gy irradiated and cultured alone, or co-cultured with irradiated or unirradiated pancreatic cancer cells. h Cell viability analysis of the isolated GFP⁺ cells. Irradiated GFP⁺ cells (as in Fig. 2g) were treated as in Fig. 1e. Data are presented as mean with SD of at least three independent experiments; ^*p < 0.05; ^**p < 0.01; ^***p < 0.001 from unpaired Student’s t test