CYT-Rx20 suppressed orthotopic esophageal tumor growth and metastasis in vivo.

<p>(A) Luciferase-expressing KYSE70 cells were inoculated into the abdominal esophagus of female nude mice as described in the Materials and methods section. The mice were intraperitoneally injected with 0 μg/g (control) or 5 μg/g of CYT-Rx20 three times a week (n = 4–5 per group). After 4 weeks, the mice were anesthetized and intraperitoneally injected with D-luciferin (150 mg/kg) for detection of bioluminescence by IVIS Spectrum in vivo imaging system. (B) Orthotopic esophageal tumor tissues were analyzed for the expression of Ki-67 and phospho-STAT3 by IHC staining. H-score was calculated as the product of percentage of stained cells and intensity of staining. The representative photographs are shown with ×40 (H&E), ×200 (IHC) magnification. (C) Metastatic lung tumor tissues from mice with or without orthotopic esophageal tumor cell injection were analyzed for the expression of Ki-67 and phospho-STAT3. Histograms show the H-score calculated as the product of percentage of stained cells and intensity of staining. The representative photographs are shown with ×100 (H&E), ×200 (IHC) magnification. Results are means ± SEM. *<i>P</i> < 0.05, **<i>P</i> <0.01 compared with the control group.