METASTATIC POTENTIAL OF LYMPHOMA LEUKEMIA CELL-LINES IN SCID MICE IS CLOSELY-RELATED TO EXPRESSION OF CD44/

To investigate whether the lymphocyte homing receptors, adhesion molec ules regulating normal lymphocyte traffic, influence the dissemination of lymphoma cells, 24 lymphoma/leukemia cell lines were inoculated in to SCID mice subcutaneously, and the correlation between the expressio n of the adhesion molecules and the metastatic potential of the cell l ines was examined. Among the six adhesion molecules examined (LFA-1, I CAM-1, CLA, VLA-4, L-selectin and CD44), L-selectin increased the inci dence of lymph node metastasis, and CD44 expression was related to bot h lymph node and organ (hematogenous) metastasis. A monoclonal antibod y to the standard form of CD44 (CD44s), Hermes-3, inhibited the local growth and remote metastasis of CD44(+) cell lines. Thus, it is conclu ded that at least CD44s expression is important in both lymphatic and hematogenous metastasis.