Relationship Between Tumor Cell Trafficking and Metastatic Potential

Relationship Between Tumor Cell Trafficking and Metastatic Potential 

Involvement of Cell Adhesion Molecules in Metastatic Cell Trafficking 

As described earlier, early trafficking (or accumulation of metastatic cells) correlates with metastatic potential to some extent and is dependent on cell adhesion molecule(s). Therefore, we examined the involvement of cell adhesion molecules, such as integrins and selectins, to the accumulation of metastatic cells 

B16BL6 cells were co-injected into a tail vein of mice with either sLe -incorporated liposomes, which may bind to selectins, or with an Arg-Gly-Asp RGD-related peptide, DGRGDS conjugated with trimesic acid [Ar(GRGDS)3], which is known to suppress interaction with certain integrins. Both sLe -liposome and RGD-related peptide suppressed actual metastasis of B16BL6 cells to the lungs. 

We then examined the trafficking of B16BL6 cells in the presence of these inhibitors. As shown in Fig. 14.4(a), accumulation of [2- F]FDG-labeled B16BL6 cells in the lungs was suppressed in the presence of sLe -liposome, but was not affected by the liposome modified with methylated sLe (Me-sLe ), which lacked the ability to bind to selectins. Neither the Me-sLe -hposome nor the nonmodified liposome suppressed B16BL6 metastasis to the lungs. Interestingly, the RGD-related peptide did not reduce the accumulation 

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II. Relationship Between Tumor Cell Trafficking and Metastatic Potential 351... 

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