Fig. 6

CircMTCL1 promotes growth and metastasis of LSCC xenograft in vivo. a, Schematic diagram of xenografts in BALB/c nude mice by inoculating TU212 cells that were stably co-transfected with sh-NC, sh-circMTCL1, respectively, at their back. Then half of the xenografts were sacrificed at the 28th day after injection and the other half were sacrificed at the 56th day after injection. b, Representative images of subcutaneously injecting nude mice and xenograft tumors. c, In vivo image of nude mice treated with subcutaneous injection of TU212 cells stably transfected with sh-circMTCL1 or sh-NC. d, Mean tumor volumes on different days for each group xenografts in nude mice. Data are showed as mean ± s.d, n = 5 for each group. e, Mean tumor weight of each group xenografts in nude mice. Data are showed as mean ± s.d, n = 5 for each group. f, In vivo image of xenografts formed by vein injection of TU212 cells stably transfected with sh-circMTCL1 or sh-NC. g and h, HE staining of tumors and lung metastases. Scale bars = 100 μm (upper) and 500 μm (lower). Data are showed as mean ± s.d, n = 5 for each group. i, IHC assay showing the protein expression of Ki-67 in tumors and C1QBP with β-catenin in lung sections of each group. Scale bars = 50 μm. j, ISH and IHC methods were used to identify the cell localization and expression levels of circMTCL1 and C1QBP in each group, in subcutaneous tumor and lung metastatic tumor. n = 5 for each group. Scale bars = 100 μm. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; ****, P < 0.0001