Establishment and characterization of seven Dunning rat prostatic cancer cell lines and their use in developing methods for predicting metastatic abilities of prostatic cancers

In vitro cell lines were established from seven biologically distinct in vivo Dunning R3327 rat prostatic tumor sublines. Some of these in vitro cell lines (i.e., G, AT-1, AT-2) retain a low metastatic ability when inoculated back into syngeneic Copenhagen male rats, while others (i.e., AT-3, MAT-LyLu, MAT-Lu) retain a very high metastatic ability. A series of genetic (i.e., DNA content per cell, modal chromosomal number), as well as phenotypic parameters (i.e., morphology, 5 alpha-reductase, androgen receptor, estrogen receptor) were used to validate that the in vitro cell lines retained the major characteristics of the parental in vivo tumor sublines used for their respective establishment. A series of additional characteristics (i.e., morphology, growth rate, saturation density in surface culture, anchorage-dependent and -independent clonogenic potential) were compared between the high vs. the low metastatic in vitro cell lines to determine if a discriminatory parameter could be identified which reproducibly predicted the metastatic abilities of the particular prostatic cancer cell line. While the combination of the in vitro cell lines and their parental in vivo tumor subline will be a valuable tool for developing methods for predicting metastatic ability of prostate cancers, no single parameter yet measured is entirely successful in making this important distinction.     

Increased formation of sister chromatid exchanges, but not of micronuclei, in anaesthetists exposed to low levels of sevoflurane

We have assessed, for the first time, genotoxicity (i.e. sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei) in anaesthetists exposed to a single volatile anaesthetic (sevoflurane) without nitrous oxide. The anaesthetists were exposed to an 8-h time-weighted average of 0.2 parts per million sevoflurane. Internists served as non-exposed controls. Mean (SD) sister chromatid exchanges per cell were significantly higher in anaesthetists compared to internists (6.6 (0.9) vs 5.1 (0.8); p < 0.001) whereas median (IQR [range]) micronuclei per 1000 binucleated cells did not differ (9.5 (6.3–10.8 [2.0–15.5]) vs 8.5 (6.0–10.5 [3.0–25.5]), respectively). Although the anaesthetists were exposed to rather low concentrations of sevoflurane, this 30% increase of sister chromatid exchanges is in agreement with a recently reported 300% increase with a high level exposure to sevoflurane and nitrous oxide. Omitting nitrous oxide does not normalise increased rates of sister chromatid exchanges.     

Waste anaesthetic gases induce sister chromatid exchanges in lymphocytes of operating room personnel

Genotoxicity related to waste anaesthetic gas exposure is controversial. We have investigated the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges in peripheral lymphocytes of operating room personnel exposed to trace concentrations of isoflurane and nitrous oxide. Occupational exposure was recorded using a direct reading instrument. Frequencies of sister chromatid exchanges were measured in lymphocyte cultures of 27 non-smokers working in the operating room and 27 non-smoking controls. Personnel were exposed to an 8-h time-weighted average of nitrous oxide 11.8 ppm and isoflurane 0.5 ppm. After exposure, sister chromatid exchange frequency was increased significantly (mean 9.0 (SD 1.3) vs 8.0 (1.4) in exposed and control personnel, respectively) (P < 0.05). We conclude that exposure to even trace concentrations of waste anaesthetic gases may cause genetic damage comparable with smoking 11- 20 cigarettes per day.      

Vascular endothelial growth factor content in metastasizing and nonmetastasizing Dunning prostatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Tumor angiogenesis is important in progressive tumor growth and metastasis. In the normal rat prostate and in androgen-sensitive prostate tumors androgen ablation causes an involution of the vasculature and a decrease in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels before regression of the prostate gland. To examine whether angiogenesis and metastasis are regulated by VEGF in androgen-insensitive and metastasizing prostate tumors, five Dunning rat prostate cancer sublines were tested; the androgen-sensitive, nonmetastasizing R3327 PAP, and the androgen-insensitive, low metastasizing AT-1, and the three androgen-insensitive, metastasizing AT-2, AT-3, and MatLyLu Dunning prostatic adenocarcinomas. METHODS: VEGF levels were quantified in the rat dorsolateral prostate and in the five Dunning sublines using competitive RT-PCR, Western blot, and Elisa. Vascular density was determined by factor VIII staining. RESULTS: VEGF mRNA was increased in all tumors compared with normal prostates. The two metastatic sublines AT-3 and MatLyLu and the nonmetastatic subline AT-1 showed the highest VEGF mRNA expression. VEGF protein levels in the prostate gland showed increased expression in the metastatic sublines, AT-2, AT-3, and MatLyLu, compared with the nonmetastatic AT-1 subline and the ventral prostate. VEGF proteins in serum were highest in the metastatic AT-3 subline. The vessel density was highest in the two highly metastatic sublines AT-3 and MatLyLu. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that VEGF levels are associated with microvessel density and the previously established metastatic pattern of these rat prostate tumor systems.     

Evidence of increased chromosomal instability in infertile males after exposure to mitomycin C and caffeine

Aim： To evaluate the genetic instability of 11 fertile and 25 infertile men. Methods： The methodology of sister chromatid exchanges （SCEs） was applied to cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes, and the levels of SCEss were analyzed as a quantitative index of genotoxicity, along with the values of the mitotic index （MI） and the proliferation rate index （PRI） as qualitative indices of cytotoxicity and cytostaticity, respectively. The genotoxic and antineoplastic agent, mitomycin C （MMC）, and caffeine （CAF） - both well-known inhibitors of DNA repair mechanism - were used in an attempt to induce chromosomal instability in infertile men, so as to more easily detect the probable underlying damage on DNA. Results： Our experiments illustrated that infertile men, compared with fertile ones, demonstrated a statistically significant DNA instability in peripheral blood lymphocytes after being exposed simultaneously to MMC and CAF. Conclusion： The current study showed vividly that there was genetic instability in infertile men which probably contributes to the development of an impaired reproductive capacity. （Asian JAndro12006 Mar; 8： 199-204）     

Compound A Induces Sister Chromatid Exchanges in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

Background: Compound A [CF2 = C(CF3)OCH2 F], a degradation product of sevoflurane [(CF3)2 CHOCH2 F], is a vinyl ether and may be an alkylating agent. Thus it is a potential genotoxin.

Methods: The capacity of compound A to produce sister chromatid exchanges was measured in Chinese hamster ovary cells with and without metabolic activation. Concentrations of 11 to 468 ppm compound A were applied for 2 h, the Chinese hamster ovary cells were incubated for a further 34 h in the presence of bromodeoxyuridine, and then colcemid was added to produce arrest in metaphase. Coded slides of cells were examined blindly, and 50 chromosome spreads were counted for each test concentration.

Results: The lowest concentration of compound A applied without metabolic activator (27 ppm) significantly increased (P < 0.001) sister chromatid exchanges, and increasing concentrations of compound A increased the incidence of exchanges. Metabolic activation did not increase the incidence of exchanges.     

In vitro germ cell models for the detection of fertility impairment

Pluripotent embryonic carcinoma cells and pluripotent embryonic stem cells established from undifferentiated cells of an early mouse embryo were investigated for induction of proliferation inhibition, sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and single-strand breaks by treatment with various germ cell mutagens. The comparison of malignant cells with nonmalignant cells showed an increased sensitivity of nonmalignant cells independent of their state of differentiation. Mitomycin C (MMC) inhibited the proliferation of nonmalignant cells at a concentration of 10(-6) M but did not affect growth of the teratocarcinoma cell line P19. There were no differences between the investigated cell lines at a lower MMC concentration. At the concentration of 10(-6) M MMC the sister chromatid exchanges of P19 were enhanced up to 41 SCE per metaphase. Testing of another germ cell mutagen, ethylnitrosourea (ENU), gave similar results: a decreasing generation time of nonmalignant cell lines after treatment with 1 mM ENU and no effect on the teratocarcinoma cells. This concentration also induced a high number of SCE. Single-strand breaks could be produced by exposure to methanmethylsulphonate (MMS). 56.3% of embryonic stem cell DNA was passing through the filter after MMS treatment. In contrast to the embryonic stem cells, only 35.6% of teratocarcinoma DNA was affected.     

Time lapse videomicroscopic identification of Dunning R-3327 adenocarcinoma and normal rat prostate cells

A method for accurate prediction of prognosis in human prostatic cancer does not exist. The limitations of pathologic grading systems may result from the failure of standard pathological examination of fixed dead tissue to accurately assess the biological behavior of live tumor cells. Many of the sublines of the Dunning R-3327 rat adenocarcinoma are histologically similar yet differ widely in their metastatic potential. The nonmetastatic G, occasionally metastatic AT-1 and AT-2, and highly metastatic AT-3 and MAT-Lu Dunning sublines, and normal dorsal prostate were grown in culture and filmed by time-lapse videomicroscopy. Cell membrane ruffling, undulation and pseudopodal extension, vectoral translation, irregularity of pathway, and overall subjective motility (gestalt) were visually graded. Intra-assay, intra-observer, and inter-observer reproducibility were 75, 80 and 75% respectively. The combination of ruffling, pseudopodal extension and vectoral translation was most successful in identifying the six sublines. To validate this technique prospectively, five tumor sublines and two normal prostates were graded by 10 observers unfamiliar with the technique. Fifty-nine percent of unknowns were correctly identified when motility profiles were compared to previously developed standards by least sum of squares analysis. We devised a new technique for characterizing the motility of living prostate cells which was more accurate in identifying normal rat prostate and the Dunning sublines than standard pathological examination. Prostatic cancer cell motility may reflect biological behavior and metastatic potential and thus contribute to the assessment of an individual patient's prognosis.     

Cell surface charge in predicting metastatic potential of aspirated cells from the Dunning rat prostatic adenocarcinoma model

The transplantable Dunning R-3327 rat prostatic adenocarcinoma model has provided a series of tumor variants with broad ranges of metastatic potential. We tested whether cell surface charge might be related to metastatic potential by measuring the electrophoretic mobility of live tumor cells obtained by needle aspiration. Cells were aspirated from tumors with low metastatic potential (following subcutaneous inoculation of 10(6) tumor cells the H, G and AT-1 variants had less than 5% metastases; AT-2 had 5-20%) and were compared to the electrophoretic mobility of cells aspirated from highly metastatic tumors (MAT-LyLu, MAT-Lu, AT-3 had greater than 90% metastases). Electrophoretic mobility expressed in mu/sec/volt/cm. was measured on 100 cells from each tumor subline, and the cell surface charge expressed as a zeta potential was calculated from electrophoretic mobility using the Helmholtz-Smoluchowski equation. The average zeta potential (+/- S.E.M.) for the four sublines with low metastatic potential was (-17.4 +/- 0.4 mV) compared to the three sublines with high metastatic potential (-26.5 +/- 0.7 mV), and the differences were significant (p less than .01) using the Mann-Whitney Wilcoxon test. Using a zeta potential of -20.5 mV as the cutoff between high and low metastatic potential, the sensitivity and specificity of zeta potential in predicting metastatic potential in 140 determinations on seven tumor lines were 92% and 82.5%, respectively. The predictive value of a positive test (value greater than -20.5 mV) was 80% and the predictive value of a negative test (value less than -20.5 mV) was 93%. The results support a difference in the cell surface charge between these metastatic and nonmetastatic tumors with increasing negativity at the cell surface correlating with increased metastatic potential, but not with tumor growth rates.     

DNA and Chromosome Alterations in Lymphocytes of Operating Room Personnel and in Patients before and after Inhalation Anaesthesia

In order to evaluate the possible genotoxic effects of inhalation anaesthetics, the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges and chromosome aberrations was studied in peripheral lymphocytes of control subjects, operating room personnel and patients before and after inhalation anaesthesia during orthopaedic operations. In the patients, the frequency of DNA breaks was studied as well. None of the genotoxic parameters showed an increase which could be related to anaesthetic exposure. The frequency of sister chromatid exchange was very similar in the control and personnel groups, as well as in patients before and after operation. The frequency of chromosome aberrations was unusually low in the control group, whereas the personnel and patient groups showed normal levels of chromosome aberrations which did not differ from previously studied control groups. There was no statistical difference in the frequency of chromosome aberrations or DNA breaks in the patient group after, as compared to before, operation. Smokers were found to have a significantly increased frequency of chromosome gaps compared to nonsmokers, but there was no indication that this difference was related to anaesthetic exposure. The data presented give no indications of genotoxic effects in vivo of inhalation anaesthetics, by either occupational exposure to waste anaesthetic gases, or anaesthesia during operation. On the other hand, our present data do not contradict previous data indicating that hospital personnel, irrespective of exposure to inhalation anaesthetics, may have a small average increase of chromosome abnormalities.     

No genotoxic effect of propofol in chinese hamster ovary cells: analysis by sister chromatid exchanges

BACKGROUND: In spite of its high placental transfer, propofol is frequently used in general anesthesia and sedation during obstetric and gynecological surgery such as in vitro fertilization. This study investigated whether or not propofol has a genotoxic potential by the sister chromatid exchange assay in vitro. METHODS: Sister chromatid exchanges induced after exposure to propofol were measured in Chinese hamster ovary cells with and without metabolic activation. After propofol (0.2-20 microg ml(-1)) diluted dimethyl sulfoxide was applied for 2 h with or without S9 mix, the cells having been incubated for two metaphases (34 h) in the presence of 5'-bromo-2-deoxyuridine. N-nitrosodimethylamine and mitomycin C were used as positive controls with and without metabolic activation. The chromosomes were stained with the fluorescence plus Giemsa method, and then sister chromatid exchanges in 50 cells were counted for each concentration. RESULTS: Although increasing concentrations of propofol inhibited cell proliferation, no concentrations of propofol used in this study increased the sister chromatid exchange values, with and without metabolic activation. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that there was no indication, from the sister chromatid exchange assay in mammalian cells, of a genotoxic effect of propofol and its metabolites.     

Sister Chromatid Exchanges in Lymphocytes in Operating Room Personnel

Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and sister chromatid exchange points (SCE-points) were counted in lymphocytes in peripheral blood drawn from hospital personnel exposed to anaesthetics as well as from persons not exposed.
A total of 38 healthy persons were investigated, representing female nurse anaesthetists, male physicians practising anaesthesia, female nurses from the intensive care unit, and female secretaries.
The mean SCE number per cell for each person was used as the variable, and the Mann-Whitney U-test was applied to test for differences between groups. The group of secretaries seemed to differ from the other three groups, which appeared identical (P<0.001). Correlation of cigarette smoking and number of SCE could not be demonstrated (r=.255, n = 38).
It was concluded that by this method there was no indication of a mutagen effect of long-term exposure to waste anaesthetic gases such as halothane and nitrous oxide.     

Proteomic analysis of dunning prostate cancer cell lines with variable metastatic potential using SELDI-TOF

BACKGROUND: Surface enhanced laser desorption and ionization-time-of-flight (SELDI-TOF) is an evolving proteomic technology for improving biomarker discovery that allows for rapid and sensitive analysis of complex protein mixtures generated from body fluids, cells, and/or tissues. SELDI--based profiling identifies unique, differentially expressed proteins relating to specific cancer-related disease states. We utilized SELDI-TOF following pre-processing with molecular separation and chemical fractionation of cell membrane extracts from three Dunning rat prostate cancer cell lines of varying metastatic potential to search novel proteins that are differentially expressed. METHODS: Dunning rat cell sublines of variable (%) metastatic potential; G (0%), AT-1 (20%), and Mat-Ly-Lu (100%) were cultured in two different laboratories. Cell lysis was performed in a homogenation buffer (320 mM sucrose/50 mM Tris/0.5 mM PSMF) using Dounce homogenation. After centrifugation, the membrane pellet was washed 2x and then solublized in 2% CHAPS/8 M urea. This sample was further processed using positive pressure molecular ultrafiltration at 30 kDa or precipitation with 50% ammonium sulfate. Next, each sample was applied to an IMAC3-Ni ProteinChip (Ciphergen Biosystems, Freemont, CA) and analyzed using Ciphergen's Protein Biology System with protein peak analysis software. RESULTS: SELDI-TOF analysis differentiated the three Dunning rat cell sublines based upon protein concentration normalized profiles between 5,000 and 20,000 Da. The preparations from the three cells lines showed clear differences when the extracts from the metastatic sublines (AT-1 and MLL) were compared to the benign subline (G) for proteins with molecular weights of 9 kDa (decrease), 12 kDa (significant decrease), 14 kDa (decrease), and 17 kDa (significant gain). After pre-processing extracts with ammonium sulfate and molecular ultrafiltration, the molecular profile changes from one subline to the next became more apparent. Our results were reproducible using multiple runs including from Dunning cells cultured in a separate laboratory, and using different lots of SELDI ProteinChips. CONCLUSIONS: The application of SELDI-TOF to a series of Dunning rat prostate cancer cell lines illustrated apparent changes in protein profiles among the three cell lines with known differences in metastatic biologic activity. SELDI-TOF identified four reproducible changes in protein expression in the AT1 and MLL metastatic cell sublines. Three of the expression changes were manifested as decreases, but one protein (17 kDa) was over-expressed in the AT1 and MLL cell lines. Emphasis will be placed on the isolation, purification, and characterization of the 17 kDa over-expressed protein and its potential role in PCa metastasis.     

Metastases-related genes in the classification of liver and peritoneal metastasis in human gastric cancer

INTRODUCTION: With the aim of identifying metastases-related genes in gastric cancer, we performed a broad analysis of differential gene expression between low-metastatic parental cell lines and established highly metastatic sublines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We established novel cell lines, AZ-H5c, NUGC-3H5, and TMK-1H7, with a high potential of liver metastasis, and AZ-P7a, NUGC-3P4T, and TMK-1P4a, with a high potential of peritoneal metastasis. These cell lines were derived from low-metastatic parental AZ-521, NUGC-3, and TMK-1 cell lines, respectively. Furthermore, to investigate different levels of gene expression implicated in metastatic potentials in gastric cancer, we investigated approximately 2000 expressed genes in each cell line using a DNA microarray. RESULTS: Varieties of genes were up-regulated or down-regulated in highly metastatic liver and peritoneal cell lines. Fifty-eight genes, including the transferrin receptor, ras-related rho, and osteopontin, and 22 genes, including apolipoprotein E and inhibin A-submit, were up-regulated and down-regulated in two or three liver metastatic sublines. On the other hand, 19 genes, the transferrin receptor, c-fos, and RANTES, and 26 genes, including MAC25, PISSLRE, and RNA polymerase, were up-regulated and down-regulated in two or three peritoneal metastatic sublines. CONCLUSION: How gene expression is implicated in gastric cancer metastasis has never been thoroughly explained, and further studies are necessary to understand the involvement of genes in cancer metastasis more thoroughly. We hope that our highly metastatic liver and peritoneal experimental models are helpful for further study and gene therapy of human gastric cancer.     

Intermediate filament expression and the progression of prostatic cancer as studied in the Dunning R-3327 rat prostatic carcinoma system

To evaluate if there is any consistent relationship between the expression of intermediate filament proteins (IFP), particularly keratins, and the degree of malignancy of prostatic cancer cells, a series of nine Dunning rat prostatic cancer sublines that span the entire spectrum of progression of prostatic cancer were studied immunocytochemically by the use of a variety of antibodies specific for keratins, vimentin, or desmin. For the keratin studies, monoclonal antibodies with either a general reactivity to several keratins or highly specific for either luminal or basal epithelial cells of the normal rat prostate were used. By use of an antibody specific for luminal cell keratin 18, the luminal tumor cells of the well-differentiated, slow-growing H and HI-S sublines were positively stained. In most of the sublines with a more advanced state of progression (i.e., the moderately differentiated, moderately fast growing HI-M; the poorly differentiated, faster growing HI-F; and the anaplastic, very fast growing AT-1, AT-2, and MAT-Lu tumors), however, no expression of keratin specific for luminal cells was detected. In addition, several of the most advanced sublines (i.e., AT-1, AT-2, and MAT-Lu) were negative using any of the keratin antibodies. In contrast, several of the other sublines with the most advanced degree of progression (i.e., the anaplastic, very fast growing MAT-LyLu tumor derived from the AT-1 subline; and the anaplastic, very fast growing AT-3 tumor, derived from the HI-F subline), however, were positively stained with the keratin antibody specific for the luminal cells. By use of the keratin antibody specific for the basal cells of the normal rat prostate, the basal tumor cells of the well-differentiated slow-growing H and HI-S tumor were positively stained. This positive staining for basal cell keratin was also found in the HI-M and HI-F tumors, while the AT-1, AT-2, MAT-Lu, MAT-LyLu, and AT-3 were negative with this antibody. Thus, a loss in staining for basal cell keratin was consistently associated with the most advanced state of tumor progression. Vimentin-positive staining was demonstrated either alone or with keratin-positive staining in part of the epithelial cancer cells of all the sublines. An increase in the positive staining for vimentin was consistently associated with a more advanced state of tumor progression. Desmin-positive staining was found only in smooth cells present within the various tumor sublines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Sister chromatid exchanges induced by inhaled anesthetics.

There is sufficient evidence that anesthetics may cause cancer to justify a test of their carcinogenic potential. Baden, et al., using the Ames test, a rapid and inexpensive genetic indicator of carcinogenicity, have shown that among currently used anesthetics fluroxene alone caused bacterial mutations. The authors used the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) technique, another rapid assay of mutagenic-carcinogenic potential. The frequency of sister chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster ovary cells increases when the cell cultures are exposed to mutagen-carcinogens, particularly in the presence of a metabolic activating system. With this test system a one-hour exposure to 1 MAC nitrous oxide, diethyl ether, trichloroethylene, halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, or chloroform did not increase SCE values. Divinyl ether, fluroxene and ethyl vinyl ether increased SCE values in the same circumstances. Results of this study of mammalian cells suggest that no currently used anesthetic is a mutagen-carcinogen. The results also suggest that anesthetics containing a vinyl moiety may be mutagen-carcinogens.     

The relationship of androgen receptor levels to androgen responsiveness in the Dunning R3327 rat prostate tumor sublines

The objective of this study was to determine whether androgen receptor levels in a transplantable animal model of prostatic adenocarcinoma correlated with androgen responsiveness of the tumor. This is the first comparative study of androgen receptor levels in 3 subcellular compartments (cytosol, nuclear salt-extractable and nuclear salt-resistant fractions) of 4 Dunning R3327 rat prostatic adenocarcinoma sublines that vary in their response to androgen ablation. Tumors were harvested from intact adult male rats in order to best approximate the human clinical setting in which receptor levels are quantitated prior to androgen ablative therapy. Only the nuclear salt-resistant (nuclear matrix) and total nuclear androgen receptor contents were significantly different among all tumor sublines. The properties of the tumors studied and their nuclear salt-resistant androgen receptor levels were as follows: H tumor--well-differentiated, slow growing, androgen-dependent, 63 +/- 11 fmol./mg. DNA; HI tumor--well-differentiated, slow growing, androgen-insensitive, 19 +/- 8 fmol./mg. DNA; G tumor--poorly-differentiated, fast growing, androgen-sensitive, 195 +/- 42 fmol./mg. DNA; and AT-2 tumor--anaplastic, fast growing, androgen-insensitive, no detectable receptors. There was no apparent quantitative relationship between androgen receptor content and tumor growth rates, which varied considerably irrespective of the androgen responsiveness of the tumor. However, there was a qualitative relationship between nuclear salt-resistant or total nuclear receptor content and androgen responsiveness. Higher levels of receptor (H and G tumor sublines) were associated with responsiveness to androgen ablation (cessation or slowing of growth, respectively), whereas lower levels of receptor (HI and AT-2 sublines) were associated with androgen insensitivity. These observations, based on relatively homogeneous tumors, may have important implications for human prostatic cancers which appear to be composed of heterogeneous cell populations.     

Prediction of metastatic potential by cancer cell motility in the Dunning R-3327 prostatic adenocarcinoma in vivo model.

Many grading systems for prostatic carcinoma exist; however, none allows pathologists to predict accurately the prognosis of individual patients. The Dunning R-3327 prostatic adenocarcinoma model consist of sublines of known metastatic potential which were indistinguishable until recently. A visual grading system of cancer cell motility distinguished the metastatic potentials of Dunning sublines maintained in vitro and was validated prospectively. We used this grading system to assess the metastatic potential of cells harvested directly from in vivo Dunning tumors. We graded the motility of cells from three Dunning sublines of low (less than 10%) (G, AT1, AT2) and three sublines of high (greater than 90%) AT3, (MAT-LyLu, PAT2) metastatic potential. Cells obtained from primary tumors were studied by time lapse videomicroscopy after passages 1, 3 and 5 in vivo and in vitro. Membrane ruffling, pseudopodal extension and cellular translation were graded 0-10. Serial analysis of mean and heterogeneity (coefficient of variation) of membrane ruffling, pseudopodal extension and cellular translation demonstrated that subline motility grades were assessed adequately by a sample of 10 cells. Motility did not depend upon whether cells were maintained in vitro or in vivo; however, motility increased with successive passages in four of six sublines. In 60 cells harvested directly from the fifth in vivo passage, three sublines of low metastatic potential were distinguished from three sublines of high metastatic potential (Student's t test, p less than 0.01). Individual cells from the sublines were identified correctly as high or low metastatic in 83, 78 and 70% of cases by membrane ruffling, pseudopodal extension and cellular translation respectively, and logistic regression analysis failed to improve classification accuracy. A visual grading system of cancer cell motility described the metastatic potential of in vivo neoplasms in the Dunning model and may warrant testing in human prostatic cancer.     

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy detects metabolic differences between seven dunning rat prostate tumor sublines with different biological behavior

In this study, it was investigated whether prostate tumor biological parameters correlate with metabolic profiles. ¹H and ³¹P magnetic resonance spectra were acquired from perchloric acid extracts of seven Dunning R-3327 prostate tumor sublines. Several metabolic ratios, for example, phosphocholine/total phosphate, choline/total creatine, and inositol/total creatine, did not correlate specifically with one biological characteristic but, based on each of these ratios, the well-differentiated, nonmetastatic, and hormone-dependent sublines could be discriminated from the poorly differentiated or anaplastic, metastatic, and hormone-independent sublines. The glycerophosphoethanolamine/total phosphate, glycerophosphocholine/total phosphate, and phosphocreatine/total phosphate ratios correlated with differentiation grade, and the differences in glycerophosphorylglycerol/total phosphate ratio between metastatic and nonmetastatic sublines was highly significant. No correlation for hormonal sensitivity with any of the metabolites measured could be found, neither by ³¹P nor by ¹H MRS. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.