Research Paper Volume 13, Issue 16 pp 20793—20807

Figure 4. The combination of STING and apatinib re-sensitizes AR cells to apatinib (A) The positive correlation between STING and TILs was confirmed using TIMER 2.0. (B) AR cells were transfected with a STING overexpression plasmid, qRT-PCR and western blot result confirmed the successful establishment of STING PLUS AR cells. (C) Levels of ERBB2, AKT, ERK, p-ERBB2, p-AKT, and p-ERK were detected using western blotting. Compared with NC PLUS cells, the levels of ERBB2, p-ERBB2, p-AKT, and p-ERK were downregulated in STING PLUS cells. (D) MTT assay illustrating the cell viability of NC PLUS and STING PLUS AR cells after apatinib (20 μM) treatment for different times. The combination of STING and apatinib re-sensitized AR cells to apatinib. (E) Colony formation was inhibited in the combination group compared with that in the groups treated with each drug alone. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 versus the control.