DIFFERENCES IN THE MIGRATION CAPACITY OF PRIMARY HUMAN COLON-CARCINOMA CELLS (SW480) AND THEIR LYMPH-NODE METASTATIC DERIVATIVES (SW620)

Two human cell lines, one established from a colon carcinoma (SW480) a nd the other from its lymph node metastasis (SW620), were compared wit h respect to their migration capacity employing a three-dimensional co llagen matrix and time-lapse video recording. Non-motile cells were ch aracterized by a round shape, whereas motile cells appeared in an elon gated form with pseudopodia. The primary tumor cells showed a higher s pontaneous locomoting activity than the cells from the metastasis. Usi ng single cell analysis, the distance migrated within 15 h was slightl y increased in the presence of hyaluronic acid (HA) in both cell lines . An investigation of the amount of CD44 on the cell surface using the anti-CD44 antibody Hermes-l showed only minor concentrations of this glycoprotein on cells from the metastasis, whereas a much higher amoun t was found on cells derived from the primary tumor. The distribution of CD44 on the cell surfaces of HA-treated and untreated cells did not differ as shown by confocal laser scanning microscopy in SW480. The r esults indicate a restricted influence of HA on migration in the two c ell lines. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.