DSC2 and neoplasm: The overall tumour burden in both mice groups did not strongly differ, while ex vivo bioluminescence signals in the scramble vs. DSC2 shRNA group (mean values: brain = 2,2 × 108 vs. 3,6 × 107 and lung = 1,5 × 108 vs. 3,4 × 107 photons/sec), as well as the amount of disseminated tumour cells (DTCs) in the brain and lung by ALU-PCR (mean values: brain = 76,5 vs. 48,3 and lung = 61,6 vs. 23,9 DTCs/60 ng DNA) clearly showed a reduced metastatic load in the DSC2 shRNA group (Fig. 6A and D).