Proliferative and metastatic potential of exfoliated colorectal cancer cells
Fermor, B.; Umpleby, H.C.; Lever, J.V.; Symes, M.O.; Williamson, R.C.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 76(2): 347-349
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0027-8874 PMID: 3456069 Document Number: 272060
Exfoliated colorectal carcioma cells were obtained by lavage of 27 freshly resected tumor-bearing segments of human bowel with the use of either Hartmann's solution or medium 199. The tumor cells were isolated from the lavage fluid on Nycodenz (Nyegaard, Oslo, Norway) columns. Their proliferative and metastatic potentials were investigated by their ability to incorporate tritiated thymidine ([3H]dThd) and by their ability to form experimental pulmonary tumors following i.v. injection into immune-deprived stain A mice. Tumor cells from 7 of 12 patients incorporated [3H]Thd as detected by autoradiography of the cells. Pulmonary nodules of colorectal carcinoma were seen in a single mouse after i.v. injection of tumor cells from 6 of 17 patients and were histologically distinct from spontaneous lung cancers seen in 3 other animals. No tumors were seen in 12 immune-deprived mice receiving tissue culture medium 199 only. Thus, exfoliated colorectal carcinoma cells can undergo further division and might give rise to implantation metastases in humans.