Figure 4

Figure 4

Absence of telomerase reduces earlier and higher tumor incidence of tp53mut. (A) quantification of spontaneous tumors through macroscopic analysis (n_WT = 44, n_tert−/− = 40, n_p53−/− = 36, n_{tert−/− tp53mut} = 40). Log-rank test was performed to determine statistical differences between the different groups. ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01. Loss of telomerase also modifies the tumour profile of tp53mut. (B) Example of haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining of a soft tissue sarcoma (arrows, upper panel) and an intestinal adenocarcinoma (arrow, lower panel). Sarcoma of tp53mut expanded to the abdominal cavity, infiltrating adipose tissue, pancreas, liver and intestine and was histologically consistent with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). The carcinoma of tert −/− expanded and effaced the intestinal mucosa and submucosa (asterisk), corresponding to a loosely cellular, unencapsulated, poorly circumscribed neoplasm composed of polygonal cells arranged in poorly cohesive cords (black arrowhead). Original magnification, 5x (bar 500 μm) and 20x (bar 100 μm). (C) quantification of spontaneous tumors through histological analysis in 12 months old fish (n_WT = 25, n_tert−/− = 59, n_p53−/− = 22, n_{tert−/− tp53mut} = 21). Number of tumors were not significantly different between mutants (Chi-square test).