Fig. 9

The combination of Dasatinib and chloroquine reduced tumor volume and weights in an A549 cell-derived xenograft model. A A Schematic diagram of the animal study. B Caliper measurement of tumor volumes for different groups at the indicated time points. C The average weight of mice was measured at the endpoint. D The upper row exhibits mice administrated with vehicle control; Dasatinib, chloroquine (CQ), and a combination of Dasatinib and CQ. The lower row shows tumors collected from corresponding mice. E The schematic mechanism on the left panel showed that the ACK1 inhibitor killed tumor cells by partially impairing cellular organelles and proteins. Damaged organelles lead cells to death by partly generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). The left panel indicated that upon treating the ACK1 inhibitor, the adaptive autophagy-like response cleared damaged cellular organelles and proteins, eradicated oxidative damages, and provided nutritional needs, consequently maintaining homeostasis and cell survival. CQ inhibited ACK1 inhibitor-triggered protective autophagy-like response. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001