Search for metastasis suppressor genes.

Cell fusion experiments have predicted the existence of cancer metastasis suppressor genes. The E1a gene of Adenovirus 2 has been demonstrated to suppress c-Ha-ras induction of experimental metastatic potential in rat embryo fibroblasts. Another approach to the identification of candidate metastasis suppressor genes has utilized differential or subtraction hybridizations to clone genes which are downregulated as cells become highly metastatic. To date, three such genes have been identified: nm23, WDNM1, and fibronectin. With regard to nm23, downregulation of nm23 RNA levels in high metastatic potential cells has been demonstrated in a wide variety of rodent metastasis systems, including K-1735 murine melanoma cell lines, nitrosomethylurea-induced rat mammary tumors, MMTV-induced mouse mammary tumors, and ras +/- E1a transfected rat embryo fibroblasts. Whether the expression of the nm23 gene, and other down-regulated genes in tumor metastasis, correlates with changes in metastatic potential, or actually has suppressive activity, will require transfection experiments.