Epigenetic modulation of differentiation in CE44 teratocarcinoma

Teratocarcinoma is a mixed germ cell tumor histologically composed of embry onal carcinoma cells and embryonic and extraembryonic tissues. In the prese nt work we have used the CE44 teratocarcinoma, which is a tumor cell line d erived from the OTT6050 experimental tumor, to appreciate the influence the microenvironment has on the modulation of tumoral differentiation. For thi s, we have studied the development of CE44 teratocarcinoma in primary tumor s (subcutaneous and intrasplenic) and in experimental metastases (hepatic a nd pulmonary). CE44 teratocarcinoma shows variations in its capacity for di fferentiation in so far as development is concerned and, in hepatic metasta ses, we noticed a reparative process of the intratumoral necrotic areas whi ch in the same cases were substituted by loose connective tissue. Our results clearly suggest that the microenvironment is decisive in the bi ological behaviour of the teratocarcinoma cells and that epigenetic factors influence the capacity for differentiation of the undifferentiated tumoral cells.