Knockdown of AKT3 increases the metastatic potential of MDA-MB-231 cells <i>in vivo</i>.

<p>AKT2,3 and AKT1,3 double knockdown cells as well as control cells were injected subcutaneously into SCID mice (8 to 10 mice per group). Tumors were allowed to grow until a termination criterion was met. (A) Growth period and tumor weight upon necropsy (Bars: SD, ns., p>0,05). (B) The number of disseminated tumor cells in the left lung of mice was quantified by Alu-PCR. (Bars: SD, *, p<0,05) (C) Protein lysates were prepared from 5 tumors per group, and AKT isoform knockdown were analyzed by Western blot. (D) Representative images from histological examination of the right lungs from mice injected with AKT2,3 and AKT1,3 knockdown cells showing macroscopically detectable metastases.