Arrest of metastatic cells: agents promoting and inhibiting instant non-specific adhesion by fibronectin

A standard mechanical test was used to quantify instant non-specific adhesion provided in vitro by fibronectin and to demonstrate how this adhesive found on circulating tumour cells can be decreased in potency by 65% when the adherents are coated with dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC). By comparison, the binding force is increased 97% by addition of sialic acid found on the more potent metastatic cells. The very tacky adhesive resulting from this mixture now fails to be inhibited by DPPC but not by phosphatidylethanolamine found in blood (1). These factors could determine whether a metastatic cell will arrest upon initial contact with a potential host tissue.