SUPPRESSION OF METASTASIS OF RAT PROSTATIC-CANCER BY INTRODUCING HUMAN-CHROMOSOME-8

In previous allelotype analyses of human prostatic cancer specimens, a llelic loss on the short arm of chromosome 8 is frequently observed. H owever, it is still unclear whether this allelic loss is an initial ev ent or a later one in development of prostatic cancer. Our previous st udies demonstrate that introduction of human chromosome 11 into highly metastatic rat prostatic cancer cells results in suppression of metas tatic ability without suppression of the in vivo growth rate or tumori genicity of the hybrid cells (T. Ichikawa et al. Cancer Res., 52: 3486 -3490, 1992). To clarify the role of human chromosome 8 in prostatic c ancer, this chromosome was introduced into highly metastatic rat prost atic cancer cells using microcell-mediated chromosome transfer. Introd uction of human chromosome 8 resulted in suppression of metastatic abi lity of the microcell hybrids, whereas no suppression of the in vivo g rowth rate or tumorigenicity was observed. These results demonstrate t hat human chromosome 8 contains metastasis suppressor gene(s) for pros tatic cancer derived from a rat. These also suggest that human chromos ome 8 has an important role in development of prostatic cancer.