A hepatic invasive human colorectal xenograft model was derived in nud
e mice by selection through the liver of the parental cell tine, C170.
Following intraperitoneal injection, tumours selectively grew on the
liver in > 80% of the animals within 15-20 days. The liver-invading xe
nograft line, renamed C170HM2, had a significantly greater expression
of the Lewis(X) antigen compared to C170 (mean linear fluorescence per
cell > 1000 compared with 500 for C170, P < 0.02). C170HM2 had signif
icantly elevated proliferation (when compared with C170) in the presen
ce of epidermal (P < 0.001) and basic fibroblast growth factor (P < 0.
001). C170HM2 also mitogenically responded to type I collagen (derived
from rat tails), unlike C170. C170HM2 tumours when invading the liver
expressed both interstitial collagenase and gelatinase activity at th
e invading edge.