Fig. 7
Comparison of tumor formation capacity of DU145 cells derived from three-dimensional (3D) culture spheres and adherent two-dimensional (2D) culture. a Photographs of representative severe combined immunodeficiency mice bearing the subcutaneous xenograft tumors formed by the inoculated DU145 cells derived from either the 3D culture spheres (Sp, right flank) or adherent 2D culture (Ad, left flank), with inoculated cell numbers of 1 × 103 or 1 × 104 cells per site. b Table summarizes the results of xenograft tumors formed in mice receiving inoculated DU145 cells derived from 3D culture spheres and adherent 2D culture (with inoculated 1 × 103, 1 × 104, and 1 × 105 cells per site; n = 6 for each experimental group). Cells derived from 3D culture spheres showed significantly higher tumor formation capacity in mice than cells from adherent 2D culture with either low or high inoculation cell numbers