The effect of tumor promoters and antagonists on in vitro directional migration of 10T1/2 mouse embryo cells.

In vitro directional migration of 10T1/2 fibroblasts is partially inhibited by TPA but not by its non-promoting analogues. Other tumor promoters, e.g., phenobarbital, saccharin, and benzoylperoxide had no measurable effect when added in concentrations known to affect in vitro two-step transformation or intercellular communication. Inhibitors of in vitro transformation do not affect migration, except for dexamethasone, which inhibited it. Hence, there is no evidence for a general correlation between tumor promoting potential and inhibition of in vitro directional migration.