A morphological characterization of melanoma tumor cell interaction with a basement membrane model in the absence and presence of an anticancer agent.

In order to study the invasive characteristics of a patient-derived malignant melanoma cell line (C8146A), interactions of the tumor cells with a basement membrane model were studied in vitro with transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Tumor cells were cultured on amniotic basement membranes for 1, 2, and 3 day intervals and exposed to the anticancer agent Actinomycin D (Act D). Localization of the subcellular sites of drug-cell interaction was performed with protein A sepharose-purified rabbit anti-Act D IgG and immunofluorescence microscopy. The action of the rRNA inhibitor prevented a significant number of C8146A cells from invading the membrane as compared with the untreated cells. These data support the utilization of Act D as an anticancer agent, but pose several considerations regarding the mechanism of anti-inhibitory activity.