Figure 1

Survival rates, body weights, tumor volumes and bioluminescent imaging in mice receiving esVEGFR-2 gene therapy. Survival rates (A), body weights (B) and tumor volumes (C) in mammary carcinomas from female BALB/c mice transfected with pVec (control), pesVEGFR-2 and pEndo vectors using in vivo gene electrotransfer. Each group consisted of 10 mice. A. Survival rates were much lower in the pVec group than in those of the pesVEGFR-2 and pEndo groups. B. Body weights were similar between pVec group and pesVEGFR-2 or pEndo groups with exception of the pEndo group at Week 2. C. From Week 1 on, rates of tumor growth (tumor volumes) in the pesVEGFR-2 and pEndo groups were significantly decreased as compared to the control values, the differences becoming even more pronounced by the termination of the experiment (Week 6) (**P < 0.01 as compared to the pVec group; †P < 0.01 as compared to the pesVEGFR-2 group). Data presented are means ± SD values. D-F. Bioluminescent imaging of five mice representative of each group. Bioluminescent imaging showed a tendency for decreases in extension of metastasis in the pesVEGFR-2 (E) and pEndo (F) groups as compared to the pVec group (D). G. Quantification of the average bioluminescent signals was significantly decreased in those of the pesVEGFR-2 and pEndo groups (**P < 0.01) as compared to the control values. As compared to the pesVEGFR-2 group, the levels were further decreased in the pEndo group (†P < 0.01).