COMPARISON OF MIGRATION PATTERNS OF NORMAL AND MALIGNANT CELLS IN 2 ASSAY SYSTEMS

Abstract

The migration patterns of normal mouse embryo fibroblast (MEF) cells and mouse fibrosarcoma (FS) cells were compared in 2 assay systems. The 2 assay systems used were the modified Boyden chamber (micropore membrane) assay and the agarose drop explant assay. In both assays the major population of MEF cells exhibited a greater rate of migration than the major population of FS cells. A small subpopulation of FS cells which had a greater rate of migration than the major population of MEF or FS cells was detected in the agarose drop assay. A number of drugs which are known to inhibit the migration of leukocytes were tested against MEF and FS cells. Concentrations were found that inhibited the major population of both groups by > 90%. At concentrations which inhibited the migration of the major population of FS cells by > 90%, a small group of fast-moving cells was still detected. Although the fast-moving cells were relatively resistant to treatment with the various drugs, this group was sensitive to a factor in serum. When normal human serum was used in place of fetal calf serum, the migration of the major population of FS cells was inhibited very little but movement of the fast-moving population was completely eliminated. The small subgroup of fast-moving cells may be responsible for the invasive nature of the FS cells.