Fig. 7

NUAK1 promotes ESCC cell metastasis in nude mice. A Representative images of lung nodules formed by NUAK1-overexpressing EC109 cells and control vector cells are shown. The numbers of lung metastatic nodules are shown in the right panel. P value was calculated by Student’s t-test. B Left, representative images of lung tissues from animals bearing xenografts from KYSE30 cells with stable NUAK1 knockdown. Right, the dot plots show the quantitative analysis of metastatic nodules on the lung surface in each group. P value was calculated by one-way ANOVA with post hoc intergroup comparison by the Tukey’s test. C The expression of p-JNK (T183/Y185) and Slug was evaluated by IHC in lung tissues from EC109-NUAK1 and vector cells. D Representative immunostaining of p-JNK (T183/Y185) and Slug in lung tissues from KYSE30-NUAK1 shRNA and control shNC cells. Scale bars, 500 μm. Error bars denote mean ± SD. ***P < 0.001. E, The working model of NUAK1 in ESCC