Selection of adenoid cystic carcinoma cell clone highly metastatic to the lung: an experimental study.

Lung metastasis is very common in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). The purpose of the present study is to establish a model for an experimental study of ACC metastatic mechanisms and antimetastatic procedures. After five repeated selection in vivo, combined with an in vitro cloning technique and analysis of platelet aggregation activity, a clone (Acc-M) highly metastatic to the lung was selected from an ACC cell line (Acc-2). The metastatic rate was 96% vs 18% for Acc-M and the Acc-2 cell line. The metastatic rate and the weight of the lung with metastases correlated positively with platelet aggregation activity. The present study might be important for research into mechanisms of ACC metastases.