In vitro migration of tumor cells from human neoplasms: inhibition by lymphokines

We have previously described a noncytotoxic lymphokine, TMIF, with the capacity of inhibiting the in vitro migration of a variety of serially passaged experimental animal tumors, but not non-neoplastic cells. In the present study, we describe conditions for the assay of human tumor cell movement utilizing agarose microdroplets. Using this procedure, we were able to demonstrate that TMIF is as effective in inhibiting the in vitro migration of suspensions of tumor cells obtained from spontaneous human neoplasms, as it is in inhibiting model tumor systems. This finding demonstrates that responsiveness to TMIF is not merely a property conferred on tumor cells by prior serial passage. Also, by demonstrating that tumors of human origin are responsive, the present study raises the possibility that studies of TMIF in neoplastic disease may provide information of prognostic value. Also, they provide the hope that if TMIF proves therapeutically effective in animal models, those results may be translated to human disease.