Fig 2: The protein expression levels of pAxl, Axl, pPI3K, PI3K, pAkt, Akt, mTOR, and PTEN in TNBC cells with Axl siRNA lentivirus infection and radiotherapy combination therapy. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, ****P<0.0001. TNBC, triple-negative breast cancer.

Fig 3: Effects of Axl inhibition and irradiation on 4T-1/IRR cell growth. (A) pAxl and Axl expression was downregulated by siRNA lentivirus infection. (B) Growth curve of 4T-1/IRR cells treated with different concentrations of R428. The effect of combined irradiation with Axl inhibition by R428 treatment and Axl siRNA lentivirus infection on (C) cell viability and (D) colony formation ability of TNBC cells. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, ****P<0.0001. NS, Not Significant; NC, negative control; TNBC, triple-negative breast cancer.

Fig 4: The metastatic ability and DNA repair ability of 4T-1/IRR cells were significantly reduced by combination therapy with Axl inhibition and radiotherapy. (A) migratory capability (scale bar, 400 µm), (B) invasive capability (scale bar, 50 µm), and (C) DNA double-stranded breaks following Axl inhibition in 4T-1/IRR cells and irradiation. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, ****P<0.0001. NC, negative control; si, small interfering.

Fig 5: The protein expression levels of pAxl, Axl, pPI3K, PI3K, pAkt, Akt, mTOR, and PTEN in TNBC cells following a combination of R428 treatment and radiotherapy. **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, ****P<0.0001. TNBC, triple-negative breast cancer.