Invasive potential and substrate dependence of attachment in the Dunning R-3327 rat prostate adenocarcinoma model

Cancer cell attachment to and invasion of the extracellular matrix has been associated with the metastatic potential of cell lines of the Dunning R-33 27 rat prostatic adenocarcinoma model. We investigated the cell-matrix inte ractions of prostate tumor cells by comparing the invasive ability through reconstructed extracellular matrix and attachment upon EHS NATRIX (natural extracellular matrix), fibronectin, laminin, and collagen Type IV. We obser ved a correlation between metastatic potential and substrate dependence of attachment in prostate cancer cells. Nonmetastatic AT-1 cells possessed a h igher adhesive potential to extracellular matrix components than the highly metastatic cells (ML, MLL and AT-3). It was also found that the invasive p otentia I of the th ree highly metastatic cell lines was significantly high er than that of the nonmetastatic cell line. Here, it is reported that the ability to traverse a matrigel matrix correlates with their metastatic pote ntial. These observations suggest that the extracellular matrix components are highly involved in influencing prostate cancer cell activities. In addi tion, we investigated the effects of two differentiation agents, retinoic a cid (RA) and difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), on the adhesive and invasive p rofiles of the tumor cells. After treatment with both agents, adhesion was increased to levels not different from nonmetastatic cells. Furthermore, th e ability of highly metastatic cells to traverse a matrigel barrier was sig nificantly reduced after treatment with both differentiation agents. These results suggest that RA and DFMO are capable in reversing the metastatic po tential of prostate cancer cells in vitro and may give a possible insight i nto their role as potential therapeutic agents in vivo. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.