Knockdown of TBX2 in metastatic human breast cancer cell lines abrogates tumor cell invasion.

<p>(A, B) Inhibition of TBX2 significantly reduces cell motility rates of (A) MDA-MB-435 tumor cells in <i>in vitro</i> scratch assays, and (B) of MDA-MB-157 breast cancer cells in Transwell migration assays (see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0041355#s4" target="_blank">Methods</a>). Data represent the mean ± S.D. (n = 3; ANOVA test). (<b>C</b>) MDA-MB-435 cells stably expressing TBX2-specific shRNA (+shTBX2) grow as non-invasive spheres in three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel, whereas MDA-MB-435 control tumor cells expressing non-target shRNA (+shCtrl) grow as spheroids that invade the surrounding extracellular matrix. (D, E) Transwell matrigel assays showing that knockdown of TBX2 significantly reduces invasion rates of (<b>D</b>) MDA-MB-435, and (E) MDA-MB-157 breast tumor cells. Data represent mean ± S.D. (n = 3; Student’s <i>t</i>-test). P values are indicated.