Figure 7
TβR-II-dependent, early primary tumor cell dissemination is dependent on focal adhesion kinase (FAK). (a) TβR-II (TβR-II)- or TβR-II-expressing/FAK deficient (TβR-II-shFAK) 4T1 cells were engrafted onto the mammary fat pads of 6-week-old Balb/C mice. Data are expressed as the mean (± SEM) tumor volumes (n = 5) measured at the indicated time points after engraftment. (b) FAK-deficient TβR-II tumors displayed significantly decreased primary tumor dissemination 1 week after tumor cell engraftment. Data are expressed as the mean (± SEM) pulmonary area flux units detected in Balb/C mice (n = 5) imaged at the indicated time points after engraftment (*P < 0.05). (c) One week after engraftment, 4T1-TβR-II tumor-bearing mice were left untreated (NS) or treated with the FAK inhibitor PF-562271 (PF-271; 50 mg/kg/day) for the duration of the experiment, as described in Figure 6c and 6d. Data are expressed as the mean (± SEM) tumor volumes (n = 5) measured at the indicated time points after engraftment (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.005). (d) Mice bearing 4T1-TβR-II tumors that were treated with PF-562271, as in panel (c) (n = 5) displayed similar pulmonary metastasis compared with controls. Data are expressed as the mean (± SEM) pulmonary area flux units detected in Balb/C mice (n = 5) imaged at the indicated time points after engraftment.