Fig. 3

CTHRC1 promotes SKOV3 cells intraperitoneal dissemination in vivo. a and b Representative bioluminescent and anatomical images of intraperitoneal disseminated tumor in nude mice bearing SKOV3^luc-Lenti-NC (n = 5) and SKOV3^luc-Lenti-CTHRC1 (n = 7). Compared with mice injected with SKOV3^luc-Lenti-NC, higher total radiance flux (a), and spread numerous metastatic tumors in the mesentery region, adjacent to the bowel and peritoneal wall (b), were observed in mice bearing SKOV3^luc-Lenti-CTHRC1 cells (**P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry assay (c) confirmed that CTHRC1 overexpression in xenograft tumors (SKOV3^luc-Lenti-CTHRC1 group) induced integrin β3 expression. Western blot assay (d) confirmed that CTHRC1 overexpression induced both integrin β3 expression and phosphorylation of FAK in xenograft tumors (SKOV3^luc-Lenti-CTHRC1 group). e Cells pooled from multiple xenograft tumors in SKOV3^luc-Lenti-CTHRC1 group brought out an increased adhesion to vitronectin compared with control group (*P < 0.05)