Fibroblasts from patients with breast cancer show abnormal migratory behaviour in vitro

In culture on collagen gels normal and transformed fibroblasts can be distinguished by their differential migratory response to changes in cell density. The effects of cell density on fibroblast migration may be expressed by a single numerical value, the cell density migration index (CDMI). Tumour-derived fibroblasts and skin fibroblasts from the majority of 24 breast-cancer patients examined had CDMI values characteristic of transformed cells. There was a significant correlation between the expression of abnormal CDMI values by tumour-derived fibroblasts and the presence of lymph-node metastases. Fibroblasts from 10 patients with benign breast disease had normal CDMI values.