Nanoparticle-linked antagonist for leptin signaling inhibition in breast cancer

Figure 5 IONP-LPrA2 decreases MDA-MB-231 tumorsphere formation. A: IONP-LPrA2 attenuation of leptin-induced tumorsphere formation. MDA-MB-231 cells were grown in low attachment plates with mammocult medium for 1-2 wk, under treatment with leptin (1.2 nmol/L) and IONP-LPrA2 (0.0036 pmol/L) plus leptin (1.2 nmol/L). Tumorspheres were counted. Tumorspheres were grouped according to size: Small (< 100 μm), medium (100-200 μm) and large (> 200 μm); B: Effect of leptin and IONP-LPrA2 on number and size of tumorspheres. Graph represents quantitative analysis of small, medium, and large tumorspheres in response to leptin and IONP-LPrA2 treatment. The number of colonies was significantly increased in leptin treated cells compared to basal (untreated) cells, ^aP < 0.05. The number of colonies pretreated with IONP-LPrA2 and then leptin differed significantly from those treated with leptin alone, ^cP < 0.05.