Isolation and characterization of low- and high-metastatic clones from murine RCT (Radiological, Chiba, and Toyama) sarcoma.

We have established low- and high-metastatic clones, named RCT(-) and RCT(+) cells, respectively, from the RCT (Radiological, Chiba, and Toyama) sarcoma spontaneously developed in a C3H/He male mouse by the limiting-dilution method in vitro or by the combination of the lung passages and limiting-dilution methods. After 20 serial passages in vitro, the metastatic potential of each clone did not alter. Morphologically, both cells were spindle-shaped, but RCT(+) cells were slightly thicker and larger than RCT(-) cells. The organization of actin-containing filaments was slightly poorer in RCT(+) cells than that in RCT(-) cells. Marked differences were observed in their growth characteristics and adhesiveness to plastic or collagen-coated surfaces, that is, RCT(+) cells grew more slowly but could adhere more rapidly and firmly to the surfaces than RCT(-) cells. RCT(+) cells were agglutinated by all lectins used but several lectins could not agglutinate RCT(-) cells. These results could be a reflection of the difference in oligosaccharide residues on the surface of each cell and, in part, might reflect the difference in organization of the actin-containing filaments that regulate the mobility of lectin receptors. No significant difference between these cell clones was noted in their sensitivity to natural-killer-cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. RCT(-) and RCT(+) cells are considered to be the most useful experimental model for the study of the certain sarcomas.