# FIBROBLAST TUMOR CELL INTERACTIONS IN TUMOR INVASION

> **NIH NIH R01** · TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON · 1990 · $170,666

## Abstract

Involvement of collagenolytic enzymes in degradation of extracellular
matrices during tumor invasion has been documented by several
investigators.  Past studies have shown that fibroblasts are stimulated to
produce type I collagen-degrading enzyme by a tumor cell factor (TCSF)
present on the tumor cell membrane.  Subsequently, using a human tumor cell
line LX-1, monoclonal antibodies were raised against TCSF and the factor
was purified.  TCSF has a mol wt. of 58 kD, and is present on the outer
surface of tumor cells but not fibroblasts.  It stimulates collagenase and
collagenase mRNA production in fibroblasts.  Several low mol wt. proteins
are present in conditioned medium from tumor cells which are
immunologically cross-reactive with TCSF, suggesting their generation by
proteolytic cleavage of the membrane TCSF.

Based on these findings we plan:
1) To obtain internal peptide sequences for TCSF to be used for
conformation of the identity of cDNA clones and for design of
oligonucleotide probes.

2) To characterize the cDNA clone(s) for TCSF that we have already obtained
and others that will be obtained in the future for use in the study of its
homology with other agents, particularly collagenase stimulatory agents,
and its expression in normal and tumor cells and tissues.

3) To screen a variety of normal and tumor tissues to establish its
distribution and possible correlations with degrees of tumor invasion.

In addition, we will begin to examine other potential properties of TCSF.

These experiments will yield further information regarding the molecular
nature and properties of TCSF, and the regulation of its production in
normal vs. neoplastic tissue.  In turn this knowledge may lead to the
development of therapeutic methods involving prevention of its action.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3177154
- **Project number:** 2R01CA038817-04A2
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** C1F5LNUF7W86
- **Principal Investigator:** CHITRA BISWAS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $170,666
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1985-07-01 → 1993-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3177154

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3177154, FIBROBLAST TUMOR CELL INTERACTIONS IN TUMOR INVASION (2R01CA038817-04A2). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3177154. Licensed CC0.

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