Monocyte-derived growth factors for human tumor clonogenic cells.

Human peripheral blood monocytes secrete a soluble factor that enhances the ability of human epithelial tumor cell lines to clone in soft agar. Monocytes increased colony growth in a concentration-dependent manner, although inhibition of cell growth was observed in the presence of high concentrations of monocytes. Addition of indomethacin to monocytes did not abrogate this inhibition. Exposure of monocytes to endotoxin increased their ability to secrete stimulatory factors. Nonadherent lymphocytes were unable to support colony growth. Conditioned media from unstimulated monocytes also increased colony growth. Growth-promoting activity was detected in the media within the first 24 hr of culture, reaching a peak at 72 hr. Activity was not observed in monocyte lysates. Monocytes released this activity when cultured in the presence of both serum-free and serum-containing media. The activity was nondialyzable, relatively heat stable, and failed to adhere to CM-Sephadex. The demonstration of a monocyte-derived factor that enhances growth of epithelial tumor colonies supports findings indicating that inflammatory products may enhance tumor cell growth in vitro.