title: The role of colon fibroblasts in malignant large bowel obstruction--an experimental in vitro model.
abstract: The mechanism of bowel obstruction in colorectal cancer is likely to involve interactions between tumour cells, host fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix. The role of fibroblast-mediated matrix reorganisation in malignant structures of the large bowel was examined in an in vitro collagen matrix model in which tumour cells and fibroblasts were cultured under serum-free conditions. Colon cancer cells secreted a factor(s) which enhanced the ability of colon fibroblasts to contrast a collagen matrix without an associated mitogenic response by the fibroblasts. Within uncontracted collagen gels marked elongation of fibroblast cell processes was observed in the presence of the tumour-derived factor(s). We propose that matrix reorganisation by host fibroblasts in the wall of the human colon is responsible, at least in part, for malignant large bowel obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Surgical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Agrez
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Chua
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication; D002455:Cell Division; D003094:Collagen; D003106:Colon / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen