Metastatic potential of human uroepithelial cancer cells is not dependent on their adhesion to E-selectin

In our previous studies we have found that human uroepithelial cell lines d iffer in their expression of sialosyl LewisA antigen. We have also shown th at among the studied cell lines, only Hu 1703He cells with the highest expr ession of this tetrasaccharide bind to E-selectin-expressing cells. In the present study we put forward the question, of whether sialosyl LewisA-media ted adhesion of uroepithelial cells to E-selectin is important in the forma tion of metastases. The HCV 29T and Hu 1703He cells, representing two uroep ithelial cell lines, were transplanted into NCr nu/nu mice. Hu 1703He cells express on their surface a high level of sialosyl LeA antigen, while HCV 2 9T cells are sialosyl LewisA-negative. We have shown that human uroepitheli al cancer cells, in addition to their tumorigenic and invasive properties, are highly metastatic when inoculated into athymic nu/nu mice. The ability to form secondary tumour foci in lung and liver seems to be independent of the expression of sialosyl LewisA antigen.