Proteolytic and metastatic activities of clones derived from a methylcholanthrene-induced murine fibrosarcoma

Eighteen clones of a methylcholanthrene-induced murine fibrosarcoma (3AM) which were heterogeneous with respect to metastatic potentials and in vivo growth rates were examined for five different protease activities: acid protease (cathepsin D), BANA hydrolase (cathepsin B), neutral protease, collagenase, and plasminogen activator. Homogenates of the solid tumors produced by the clones were heterogeneous with respect to the activities of the proteases; these activities were in all cases (except plasminogen activator) higher than those obtained for normal muscle tissue. There was, however, no correlation between any of these protease activities and the metastatic potential or in vivo growth rates. The cathepsin B activity has also been evaluated on the cultured cells of the various clones. Results similar to that of the in vivo study were obtained. Analysis of the enzyme activity of the cell culture and of organ culture media, however, revealed no cathepsin B activity. It is concluded that the measurement of any one biochemical parameter such as proteolysis may not be sufficient to establish a correlation with the overall process of metastasis; a more precise dissection of the individual steps culminating in metastasis may provide a more fruitful approach to this problem.