Fig. 4

miR-3613-3p suppressed tumor growth and metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells in NOD/SCID mice. a The strategy of animal experiment was illustrated. After tumor volume reached about 50 mm³, miR-3613-3p or control agomir was intratumor injected respectively every 2 days for four times. b The expression of miR-3613-3p in tumor tissues from miR-3613-3p or control group were detected by RT-PCR after mice were killed on day 60 (***P < 0.001). c Tumor growth curve of mice injected with miR-3613-3p or control agomir (Shown are mean tumor volumes ± SEM; n = 4 per group; **P < 0.05). d Bioluminescence images of the primary tumors from miR-3613-3p or control mice were captured by Live animal imager on day 59. e Bioluminescence intensity of primary tumors were statistically analyzed (P = 0.03). f Correlation between primary tumor bioluminescence intensity and miR-3613-3p expression was calculated by Pearson test (r = − 0.75, P = 0.03). g Bioluminescence images of the pulmonary metastases were captured by Live animal imager on day 59. h Correlation between primary tumor bioluminescence intensity and miR-3613-3p expression was calculated by Pearson test (r = − 0.68, P = 0.07). i Representative images of the pulmonary metastases in mice by H&E staining (arrow marked typical metastases; Scale bar, 100 mm). j Metastatic lung tubercle numbers were calculated from H&E staining images (**P < 0.05)