Effect of recombinant human fibronectin polypeptide CH50 on growth and metastasis of melanoma

AIM: To study the effect of recombinant human fibronectin polypeptide CH50 on murine melanoma growth and metastasis, and its antitumor mechanism. METH ODS: Mouse and melanoma B16 cell, tests were used to observe antitumor effe ct and mechanism of CH50. RESULTS: CH50 markedly inhibited melanoma growth and experimental lung metastasis. The melanoma weight was reduced from (2.3 +/- 1.2) g of control group to (0.7 +/- 0.8) g of test group (P < 0.05). C H50 at 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 mg/mouse reduced melanoma lung metastatic colonies from 87 +/- 49 of control group to 34 +/- 6, 14 +/- 12, 4 +/- 2, respective ly. CH50 adhered to melanoma B16 cells and inhibited adhesion of B16 cells to laminin. CH50 enhanced the cytotoxicity of macrophages to melanoma B16 c ells. CONCLUSION: CH50 inhibited tumor growth and metastasis of murine mela noma. The antitumor effect of CH50 is related to its adhesion ability to me lanoma B16 cells and enhancing macrophage cytotoxicity.