Potentiation of invasive capacity of rat ascites hepatoma cells by transforming growth factor-beta.

The in vitro invasive capacity of poorly invasive cells (W1), which were cloned from rat ascites hepatoma cells (AH 130), was potentiated dose- and time-dependently by pretreating the cells with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). This potentiation of invasive capacity was completely abolished by anti-TGF-beta antibody. When the treated cells were ip inoculated into rats, the cells extensively invaded the peritoneum, and formed penetrating tumor nodules. The effect of TGF-beta was reversed by subculturing the treated cells without TGF-beta. The potentiation of invasive capacity by TGF-beta might participate in platelet-associated enhancement of tumor cell metastasis.