Haptotactic migration of pancreatic cancer cells induced by bioactive components in bovine liver extract

Background and Objectives: Migration into subendothelial tissue in remote organ by cancer cells are crucial events for organ-specific metastasis, including liver metastasis. This study aims to investigate the chemoattractive ingredients in liver extract, which induce migration of liver metastatic cancer cells. Methods: Cell migrations of SU.86.86 cells, human pancreatic cancer cells raised from liver metastasis, toward the bovine liver extract were studied by chemotaxis or haptotaxis assay. Bovine liver extract was partially purified by chromatographic or gel elutriation method. Results: The soluble fraction of the liver extract did not induce chemotactic migration of SU.86.86 cells. However, the insoluble fraction induced a remarkable haptotactic migratory response. C₁₈ column unbound insoluble fractions eluted from SDS-PAGE induced chemotactic migration of SU.86.86 cells. Conclusion: Such bioactive components in liver extract may play an important role in the development of liver metastasis.