Figure 4

Hypercholesterolemic diet induces a breast cancer phenotype characterized by large and more proliferative tumors. A and B. HD fed mice have raised levels of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). There are no statistical significant differences in triglycerides level or animal weight, as exemplified to MDA MB 231/BALB SCID trial. (Results of the other experiments are in supplementary data.) Animal in the same diet but without tumor cells inoculation were used as control to lipid profile parameters. C and D. HD fed mice show large tumors when compared to ND fed mice. The mammary tumor large diameter was measured (as exemplified to 4 T1 /NOD experiment B) and the differences are shown as the fold change over the ND fed mice. E. HD fed mice are more likely to have lung metastasis (100%) than ND fed mice (33%). F and G. HD fed mice have more proliferative tumors as confirmed by Ki67 immuno staining. P value and the number of the experiments are represented in the figure. Columns mean; bars ± SEM. Scale bar 100 μm.