Fig. 6

Role of DSC2 on TNBC cell dissemination in an intracardiac mouse model in vivo. A Representative BLI pictures of whole mice and the corresponding ex vivo brain of each group (MDA-MB231-BR DSC2 shRNA and MDA-MB231-BR scramble shRNA) 21 days after injection. B The quantification of ex vivo BLI signals (left panel) and amount of disseminated tumour cells (ALU-PCR; right panel) from brains and lungs revealed a lower metastastic load in organs from mice bearing DSC2 knock down tumours in comparison with those injected with the control cell line. C Reduced levels of CTCs and CTCCs (circulating tumour cell clusters) were quantified in the DSC2 knock down group (n = 8, blood was pooled for analysis) in comparison to the control group (n = 8, blood was pooled for analysis). Representative pictures of CTCCs isolated from the DSC2 knock down group showing CD298 positivity and a CD45 negative staining. D Small metastatic lesions in the brain and lungs were detected by specific luciferase staining. In the brain of DSC2 knock down mice mainly single cells or small cell aggregates were detected, whereas larger metastases were found in the brains of the control scramble mice group. Microscopically detectable intravasal lung metastases in a DSC2 knock down mice and established metastatic lesion in a control mouse. Black file marks metastatic tumour cells