Metastatic potential of human uroepithelial cancer cells is not dependent on their adhesion to E-selectin

In our previous studies we have found that human uroepithelial cell lines differ in their expression of sialosyl LewisA antigen. We have also shown that among the studied cell lines, only Hu 1703He cells with the highest expression of this tetrasaccharide bind to E-selectin-expressing cells. In the present study we put forward the question, of whether sialosyl LewisA-mediated adhesion of uroepithelial cells to E-selectin is important in the formation of metastases. The HCV 29T and Hu 1703He cells, representing two uroepithelial cell lines, were transplanted into NCr nu/nu mice. Hu 1703He cells express on their surface a high level of sialosyl LeA antigen, while HCV 29T cells are sialosyl LewisA-negative. We have shown that human uroepithelial cancer cells, in addition to their tumorigenic and invasive properties, are highly metastatic when inoculated into athymic nu/nu mice. The ability to form secondary tumour foci in lung and liver seems to be independent of the expression of sialosyl LewisA antigen.