A study was made on the
in vitro interactions between tumor cells and fibroblasts derived from the connective tissue adjacent to the tumor in the same individual, and of the influence of various stroma-affecting agents (ascorbic acid, hyaluronidase, heparin, chondroitinsulfate, and hydrocortisone) on those interactions. For this purpose, cell strains derived from Walker-256 rat carcinoma, T241 mouse sarcoma, and adjacent connective tissue were subcultured.
The five stroma-affecting agents in the concentrations used did not show any promoting effect on fibroblast growth. On the other hand, the growth of both strains of tumor cells was promoted by ascorbic acid and inhibited by hyaluronidase, heparin, and chondroitinsulfate. The effect of these agents on the interactions between tumor cells and fibroblasts varied from case to case.
Different results from
in vitro interactions were obtained in experiments performed at different times of subculture or by different methods.
In general, however, the growth of Walker tumor cells was limited by the network of fibroblasts. In contrast, T241 tumor cells were able to grow into a meshwork of growing fibroblasts, and a large number of T241 tumor cells showed a marked ability to cause the dissolution of fibroblasts.
The effects of cell-free fluids from fibroblasts or tumor-cell cultures on the growth of tumor cells or fibroblasts, respectively, were also studied. In particular, effect on fibroblast multiplication.
On the basis of the present study, it appears that the
in vitro interactions between tumor cells and fibroblasts in combined cultures depends on population density, the malignant potency of the tumor cells, and the time of subcultivation.
The relative importance of these factors is often different in different cases.
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