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Urokinase secretion from human colon carcinomas induced by endogenous diglycerides
B Marian1, S Harvey, D Infante
1Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021.
Cancer Research
|April 15, 1990
Summary
Fecal diglycerides (DGs) promote colon tumor growth by selectively stimulating cancer cell proliferation and urokinase secretion. These compounds enhance tumor development and invasion, unlike in normal colon cells.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Colon tumor cells exhibit differential responses to environmental modulators compared to normal colonocytes.
- Fecal diglycerides (DGs) are endogenous compounds found in the colon that may function as tumor promoters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the selective effects of fecal diglycerides (DGs) on colon tumor cell proliferation and urokinase secretion.
- To determine the role of fecal DGs in colon tumor development and invasion.
Main Methods:
- Primary cell culture of colon tumor cells and normal colonocytes.
- Assessing mitogenesis in response to fecal DGs.
- Measuring urokinase secretion and mRNA synthesis in colon carcinoma cells.
Main Results:
- Fecal DGs induced mitogenesis in benign and malignant colon tumor cells but not in normal colonocytes.
- Fecal DGs significantly increased urokinase secretion and mRNA levels in colon carcinoma cells.
- The activity of saturated-chain DGs in promoting urokinase secretion was dependent on fatty acid chain length (14-16 carbons).
Conclusions:
- Fecal diglycerides selectively promote colon tumor cell growth and invasion.
- The induction of mitogenesis and urokinase secretion by DGs contributes to tumor development and local invasion.
- Fecal DGs represent a potential therapeutic target for colon cancer intervention.