[The presence of large acidic vesicles is correlated with in vitro invasive potential of breast cancer cells].
Human breast cancer cells include large acidic vesicles (LAVs) containing endocytosed extracellular matrix (P. Montcourrier et al., Cancer Res., 50, 1990, p. 6045-6054) and mature cathepsin D, a lysosomal protease associated with metastatic risk. We show that metastatic breast cancer MDA-MB231 cells migrating in vitro through a Matrigel gel in a modified Boyden chamber were enriched in LAVs (28% compared to 6% before plating) as visualized by acridine orange fluorescence. This is the first evidence that LAVs are associated with invasiveness of cancer rather than with an apoptotic process.
Montcourrier
P
P
Unité Hormones et Cancer, INSERM U 148, Montpellier, France.
Valembois
C
C
Rochefort
H
H
D000143:Acids; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000737:chemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000473:pathology
D000143:Acids; D002402:Cathepsin D