Fig. 6

Response of MDA-MB-231 cells cultured in three-dimensions to doxorubicin in combination with β1-integrin inhibition. (a) Expression of β1-integrin in MDA-MB-231 cells grown in 3D conditions; green fluorescence represents β1-integrin and blue fluorescence (Hoechst) represents nuclear staining. Intensity of β1-integrin staining is located below the corresponding image. Analysis was completed using the radial profile plugin in ImageJ. (b) The total mean intensity of β1-integrin staining in 3D cell cultures between untreated and treated (720 nM doxorubicin) cultures. (c) Morphological response of 3D cultures consisting of MDA-MB-231 cells to inhibitory agents; green fluorescence corresponds f-actin (phalloidin) and blue fluorescence (Hoechst) represents nuclear staining. Size of MDA-MB-231 3D cultures: mean diameter (d’) and mean area (d”), following exposure to inhibitory agents. (e) β1-integrin signalling was inhibited and combined with various concentrations of doxorubicin: 5 μM, 1.25 μM, 0.31 μM, 0.07 μM. Significance values are: p ≤ 0.01 (**), p ≤ 0.001 (***), p ≤ 0.0001 (****). Scale bar = 100 μm. Data represent mean ± standard error