Morphogenesis of human colon cancer cells with fetal rat mesenchymes in organ culture

Summary The morphogenesis and cytodifferentiation of human colon cancer cells (LS174T and HT29) were examined by combining cancer cells with fetal rat digestive-tract mesenchyme in organ culture. LS174T cells migrated into the mesenchyme to form glandular structures composed of single columnar cells with their nuclei oriented basally, while HT29 cells formed cell masses with little lumen formation. Immunohistochemical studies with antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen and secretory components showed that the composition of cell surface glycoproteins was not necessarily reversed to the normal type, even when neoplastic cells exhibited normal glandular structures.This work was supported by grants-in-aid for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, Japan, and by the Veterans Administration Medical Research Service, USA. Y.S. Kim is the recipient of a Medical Investigator Award of the Veterans Administration.