Fig. 3

In vivo effects of EpCAM-KD on chemosensitivity in s.c. and orthotopic animal models. a Tumour growth curves are shown for DTX or VC treatment groups of PC-3-EpCAM-KD and PC-3-EpCAM-scr s.c. mouse model. Significant differences were seen between PC-3-EpCAM-KD-DTX and PC-3-EpCAM-KD-VC groups (P < 0.01), PC-3-EpCAM-scr-DTX and PC-3-EpCAM-scr-VC groups (P < 0.01), PC-3-EpCAM-KD-VC and PC-3-EpCAM-scr-VC groups (P < 0.05), respectively (n = 4). b The ratios of DTX-treated versus VC-treated tumour volumes (DTX/VC) were calculated and plotted from the start of DTX treatment to the end of experiment in s.c. mouse model. The ratio of PC-3-EpCAM-KD tumour volumes decreased faster in response to DTX, compared to PC-3-EpCAM-scr group (P < 0.01, n = 4). c Representative images of PC-3-EpCAM-KD and PC-3-EpCAM-scr s.c. xenografts (at the end of the experiment, 5 weeks post DTX treatment). d Tumour growth curves are shown for DTX or VC groups of PC-3-EpCAM-KD and PC-3-EpCAM-scr orthotopic mouse model. Significant differences were seen between PC-3-EpCAM-KD-DTX and PC-3-EpCAM-KD-VC groups (P < 0.01), PC-3-EpCAM-scr-DTX and PC-3-EpCAM-scr-VC groups (P < 0.01), PC-3-EpCAM-KD-VC and PC-3-EpCAM-scr-VC groups (P < 0.05), respectively (n = 4). e The ratios of DTX against VC tumour volumes (DTX/VC) were calculated and plotted from the start of DTX treatment to the end of experiment in orthotopic mouse model. The ratio of PC-3-EpCAM-KD tumour volumes decreased faster in response to RT compared to the sham irradiation (P < 0.05, n = 4). f Characteristic images of PC-3-EpCAM-KD and PC-3-EpCAM-scr orthotopic xenografts (at the end of the experiment, 5 weeks post DTX treatment). DTX, docetaxel; KD, knock-down; scr, scrambled shRNA control; VC, vehicle control