Fig. 7

HCT116 human CRC cells were fluorescently labeled with lipophilic CM-DiI (shown in red) and injected into the perivitelline space (PVS) of 2 days post fertilization (dpf) zebrafish larvae. Zebrafish xenografts were randomly distributed into different treatment groups and were daily treated with DMSO, Na[AuCl4], PD1, PD2, PD1 + Na[AuCl4] and PD2 + Na[AuCl4]. At 4 dpi, zebrafish xenografts were analyzed for cell proliferation, apoptosis, and tumor size. (a) Representative scheme of the Zebrafish xenografts assay. (b) Representative maximum projections of Zebrafish xenografts on where the therapeutic effects of the different treatment conditions were analyzed. (c) Quantification of cell proliferation (mitotic figures). (d) Apoptosis (activated caspase 3 ****P < 0.0001, ***P = 0.003, **P = 0.0019); and (e) tumor size (no. of tumor cells: c, *P = 0.0147). Graphs represent fold induction (normalized values to controls) of Avg ± SEM. The number of xenografts analyzed is indicated in the representative images, each dot represents one xenograft, and the results are from two independent experiments. Statistical analysis was performed using an unpaired t test. Statistical results: ns >0.05, *P ≤ 0.05, **P ≤ 0.01, ***P ≤ 0.001, and ****P ≤ 0.0001. All images are anterior to the left, posterior to right, dorsal up, and ventral down. The dashed line represents the tumor area. Scale bar 50 μm.