Fig. 4

ASB3 inhibits the tumorigenicity and hepatic metastasis of CRC cells in vivo. HCT116 cells stably transfected with ASB3 cDNA or its mutants (1 × 10⁶ cells each) were subcutaneously or intrasplenically injected into nude mice (8 in each group), and the formation and growth of subcutaneous xenografts a–c and liver metastatic tumors d and e were monitored. a The picture of subcutaneous xenografts. b Growth curves of subcutaneous xenografts (*P < 0.05). c Average weight of subcutaneous xenografts. d Numbers of liver metastatic tumor nodules (*P < 0.05 compared with the vector group). e Gross tumor growth in the spleen and liver after intrasplenic injection of HCT116 cells stably transfected with ASB3 cDNA or its mutants (1 × 10⁶ cells each) for 8 weeks. Left general spleen images; Right general liver images. f Representative images (upper) and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining pictures (lower) of the livers from each group; the metastatic tumor nodules are indicated with yellow arrows. The scale bars in HE staining pictures represent 100 µm