Fig. 4

OPN3 knockdown suppresses tumor growth in nude mice. a and b A lentiviral vector was constructed for the stable knockdown of the OPN3 gene, with expression levels confirmed through qPCR and Western blot analysis, *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001; means + SD. c Tumor volume in xenograft models, initiated with shNC and shOPN3, was monitored from day 0 to 35, ***P < 0.001; means + SD. d Photographs of the xenograft tumors derived on day 35. e and f Tumor weight was measured for xenografts on day 35, **P < 0.01; means + SD. g and h Apoptosis was assessed using the TUNEL assay, ***P < 0.001; means + SD. i The histological alterations of tumors induced in nude mice. Histological features of tumors were analyzed following H&E staining. j Ki67 expression was analyzed by the IHC assay. k Reduced OPN3 protein levels in the tumors induced by OPN3-knockdown in nude mice. OPN3 expression in tumor tissues was analyzed by the IHC assay