PMC

A: CXCL12-treated group. The number of invading PC3 cells was higher than that found in the other two groups. H&E, 100×. B: Untreated control group. Some PC3 cells migrated through the ECM gel to the lower layer. H&E, 100×. C: AMD3100-treated group. The number of invading PC3 cells was much lower than that found in the other two groups. H&E, 100×.

A: The cells in hyperplastic prostate tissue differentiated well with glandular tube-like arrangement. H&E, 100×. B: Human prostate cancer tumor cells grow around the nerve. Some tumor cells have invaded into nerve tissue. The red arrow indicates the nerve, H&E, 100×. C: Cells in a human prostate cancer tumor around the nerve express MMP-2 that degrades the ECM around the nerve tissue and promotes PNI. The red arrow indicates nerve tissue. MMP-2 immunohistochemical staining (SP), 100×. D: Cells in human prostate cancer tumor around the nerve express MMP-9 that degrades the ECM around the nerve tissue and promotes PNI. The red arrow indicates nerve tissue. MMP-9 immunohistochemical staining (SP), 100×. E: Prostate cancer cells infiltrate the nerve. Both tumor cells and nerve tissue express CXCL12. Red arrow indicates nerve. Blue arrow indicates tumor cells. CXCL12 immunohistochemical staining (SP), 100×. F: Prostate cancer cells expressing CXCR4 infiltrate the nerve. The red arrow indicates nerve tissue. CXCR4 immunohistochemical staining (SP), 100×.

A: The gross appearance of tumor mass present in a BALB/C mouse 28 days after inoculation with PC3 prostate cancer cells. B: Sporadic PC3 cells infiltrate into nerve tissue. The arrows indicate nerve tissue. H&E, 100×. C: Sporadic PC3 cells infiltrated the nerve. Both PC3 cells and nerve tissue express NGF. The red arrows indicated nerve tissue. NGF immunohistochemical staining (SP), 100×. D: Sporadic PC3 cells infiltrate the nerve. Both PC3 cells and nerve tissue expressed CXCL12. Red arrow indicates nerve tissue secreting CXCL12. Blue arrow indicates tumor cells. CXCL12 immunohistochemical staining (SP), 100×. E: Sporadic PC3 cells infiltrate the nerve. PC3 cells expresse CXCR4. The arrow indicate nerve tissue. CXCR4 immunohistochemical staining (SP), 100×. F: PC3 cells express MMP-2 that degrades ECM around nerve tissue and promotes PNI. The red arrow indicates nerve tissue. MMP-2 immunohistochemical staining (SP), 200×. G: PC3 cells express MMP-9 that degrades ECM around nerve tissue and promotes PNI. The red arrow indicates the nerve tissue. MMP-9 immunohistochemical staining (SP), 200×.