[A study on the correlation between the activity of 72,000 type IV collagenase and the metastatic potential of cancer cells].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the enzyme activity of 72,000 type IV collagenase and its relationship with the metastatic potential of cancer cells.


METHODS
The levels of secreted 72,000 type IV collagenase in the conditioned media of five human cancer cell lines with different metastatic potential and a normal lung fibroblast strain treated with cancer cell culture media were examined by gelatin zymography and densitometric analysis.


RESULTS
The levels of 72,000 type IV collagenase secreted by cancer cells with high metastatic potential (PG, WM451 and WM983a) were higher than those secreted by cancer cells with low metastatic potential (PAa and WM35). In the conditioned media of fibroblasts which were treated with the culture media of PG and WM451, enhanced levels of activation were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The secretion of 72,000 type IV collagenase is closely correlated to the metastatic potential of cancer cells. The cancer cells with high metastatic potential may possibly through certain soluble mediators stimulate normal fibroblasts to activate 72,000 type IV procollagenase.
Department of Pathology, Beijing Medical University.
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Q
Gao
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Wu
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Zhong
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary; D018286:Carcinoma, Giant Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2