Inhibition of calpains in both host and melanoma cells (global inhibition).

<p>C57BL/6 control (WT mice) and transgenic mice (CalpTG mice) were injected with one million melanoma B16-F10 cells transfected with control plasmid (WT/Ctrl-Mel) and calpastatin plasmid (TG/Calpast-Mel) respectively. Mice were sacrificed at day 16 for tissue analysis. <b>A</b>. Tumor growth was measured from day 9 to day 16. Calpastatin overexpression in both hosts and melanoma decreased significantly tumor growth. N = 10/group, * p<0.05. <b>B</b>. Tumor weight at day 16. Calpastatin overexpression in both hosts and melanoma decreased non-significantly tumor weight. N = 10/group, p = NS. <b>C</b>. Angiogenesis assessed by vessel count at 200×magnification after CD-31 staining. TG/Calpast-Mel mice had a trend to have less neo-angiogenesis than WT mice. N = 10/group, p = NS. <b>D,E,F,G.</b> CD3, CD4, CD8 and NK cell number/HPF (200×magnification). Immune cell infiltrate was significantly lower in TG/calpast Mel mice than in WT/Ctrl mice. N = 10/group, * p<0.05. <b>H.</b> Proportion of metastatic regional lymph nodes at day 16. TG/Calpast-Mel mice had a trend to have more metastatic lymph nodes than WT mice (9/10 vs 4/10 respectively, p = NS).