Phenotypic characteristics of lewis lung carcinoma cells.

We studied adhesive properties and physiological activity in vivo of cells from Lewis lung carcinoma and its metastases. These cells differed in tumorogenic activity and metastatic potential in the syngeneic system. In vivo non-metastasizing cells are characterized by a lower content of surface lectins to tetrasaccharides SiaLex [Neu5Aca2-3Galb1-4(Fuca1-3) GlcNAcb] and SiaLea [Neu5Aca2-3Galb1-3(Fuca1-4)GlcNAcb] and trisaccharide HSO3Lex [HSO32-3Galb1-4(Fuca1-3)GlcNAcb] compared to cells forming metastases in the syngeneic system. Metastatic cells with low tumorogenic activity weakly expressed lectins to disaccharide ligands 6-SiaLac [Neu5Aca2-6Galb1-4Glc], 6-HSO3LacNAc, and A-di [GalNAca 1-3Galb] and trisaccharides H-type 1 [Fuca1-2Galb1-3GlcNAc and Lex [Fuca1-3(Galb 1-4)GlcNAc] compared to cells that initiated tumor formation in the syngeneic system (similarly to transplanted tumors). We hypothesized that cell receptors to these carbohydrate determinates are involved in the development and growth of primary tumors, while lectins to SiaLex, SiaLea, and HSO3Lex play a role in the progress of tumor process and metastasizing.