Summary
The surfaces of viable cells of metastatic human carcinomas of various histologic types and primary origin, suspended in pleural and ascitic fluids, were shown by scanning electron microscopy to be covered by microvilli of variable configuration and distribution. Microvilli of some cancer cells appeared biologically active since they were capable of forming extensions and anastomoses when settling on glass. The possible specificity and significance of microvilli in the light of the experimental data were discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Albores-Saavedra, J., Altamirano-Dimas, M., Alcorta-Anguizola, B., Smith, M.: Fine structure of human papillary thyroid carcinoma. Cancer28, 763–774 (1971)
Ambrose, E.J.: The surface properties of mammalian cells in culture. In: The proliferation and spread of neoplastic cells, pp. 23–37. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins 1968
Andrews, P., Porter, K.L.: The ultrastructural morphology and possible functional significance of mesothelial microvilli. Anat. Record177, 408–426 (1973)
Berlin, R.D., Oliver, J.M., Ukena, T.E., Yin, H.H.: The cell surface. N. Eng. J. Med.292, 515–520 (1975)
Dick, E.G., Dick, D.A.T., Bradbury, S.: The effect of surface microvilli on the water permeability of single toad oocytes. J. Cell Sci.6, 451–476 (1970)
Domagala, W., Woyke, S.: Transmission and scanning electron microscopic study of cells in effusions. Acta Cytol.19, 214–224 (1975)
Evans, R.B., Morhenn, J., Jones, A.L., Tomkins, G.M.: Concomitant effects of insulin on surface membrane conformation and polysome profiles of serum-starved Bells/C 3T3 fibroblasts. J. Cell Biol.61, 95–106 (1974)
Fawcett, D.W.: The cell; its organelles and inclusions. Philadelphia and London: W.B. Saunders 1966
Fisher, H.W., Cooper, T.W.: Electron microscopic studies of the microvilli of HeLa cells. J. Cell Biol.34, 569–576 (1967)
Follet, E.A.C., Goldman, R.D.: The occurrence of microvilli during spreading and growth of BHK21/C12 fibroblasts. Exp. Cell Res.59, 124–136 (1970)
Greenwood, M.F., Holland, P.: The mammalian respiratory tract surface. A scanning electron microscopic study. Lab. Invest.27, 296–304 (1972)
Hodges, G.M.: A scanning electron microscope study of cell surface and cell contacts of “spontaneously” transformed cells in vitro. Europ. J. Cancer6, 235–239 (1970)
Jacobs, J.B., Arai, M., Cohen, S.M., Friedeil, G.H.: Early lesions in experimental bladder cancer: Scanning electron microscopy of cell surface markers. Cancer Res.36, 2512–2517 (1976)
Johnston, W.W., Ginn, F.L., Amatulli, J.M.: Light and electron microscopic observations on malignant cells in cerebrospinal fluid from metastatic alveolar cell carcinoma. Acta Cytol.15, 365–371 (1971)
Jordan, J.A., Williams, A.E.: Scanning electron microscopy in the study of cervical neoplasia. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. Brit. Commonwealth78, 940–946 (1971)
Koss, L.G.: Diagnostic cytology and its histopathologic bases. 2nd edition. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott 1968
Koss, L.G.: Morphology of cancer cells. Handbuch der allgemeinen Pathologie. Sechster Band. Fünfter Teil, pp. 1–139. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1974
Koss, L.G.: Some ultrastructural aspects of experimental and human carcinoma of the bladder. Cancer Res.37, 2824–2835 (1977)
Kram, R., Mamont, P., Tomkins, G.M.: Pleiotypic control by adenosine 3′: 5′-cyclic monophosphate: A model for growth control in animal cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.70, 1432–1436 (1973)
Krivinkova, H., Ponten, J., Blondai, T.: The diagnosis of cancer from body fluids. A comparison of cytology, DNA measurement, tissue culture, scanning and transmission microscopy. Acta Path. Microbiol. Scand. Sect. A.84, 455–467 (1976)
Mohr, W., Beneke, G., Murr, L.: Untersuchungen zur Mitreaktion der Pleura bei peritonealen Reizungen. Path. Microbiol.37, 459–468 (1971)
Murad, T.M.: Electron microscopic studies of cells in pleural and peritoneal effusions. Acta Cytol.17, 401–409 (1973)
Murad, T.M., Scarpelli, D.G.: The ultrastructure of medullary and scirrhous mammary duct carcinoma. Am. J. Path.50, 335–360 (1967)
O’Neill, C.H., Follet, E.A.C.: An inverse relation between cell density and the number of microvilli in cultures of BHK21 hamster fibroblasts. J. Cell Sci.7, 695–709 (1970)
Otten, J., Johnson, Y.S., Pastan, G.: Cyclic AMP levels in fibroblasts: relationship to growth rate and contact inhibition of growth. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.44, 1192–1198 (1971)
Overton, J., Shoup, J.: Fine structure of cell surface specializations in the developing duodenal mucosa of the chick. J. Cell Biol.21, 75–85 (1964)
Porter, K.R., Fonte, V.G.: Observations on the topography of normal and cancer cells. Proc. Scanning Electron Microscopy (eds. O. Johari and I. Corvin), pp. 683–688. Chicago: NT Research Institute 1973
Porter, K.R., Prescott, D., Frye, J.: Changes in surface morphology of Chinese hamster ovary cells during the cell cycle. J. Cell Biol.57, 815–836 (1973)
Puck, T.T., Waldren, C.A., Hsie, A.W.: Membrane dynamics in the action of dibutyryl adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate and testosterone one mammalian cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.69, 1943–1947 (1972)
Rapin, A.M.C., Burger, M.M.: Tumor cell surfaces: General alterations detected by agglutinins. In: Advances in Cancer Research. (Eds. G. Klein, S. Weinhouse), pp. 1–91. New York: Academic Press 1974
Roberts, D.K., Marshall, R.B., Wharton, J.T.: Ultrastructure of ovarian tumors. I. Papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma. Cancer25, 947–958 (1970)
Robbins, J.C., Nicholson, G.L.: Surfaces of normal and transformed cells. In: Becker, F.F. (Ed.) Cancer. A comprehensive treatise. Vol. 3. New York: Plenum Press Publ. Co. 1975
Roseman, S.: The biosynthesis of complex carbohydrates and their potential role in intercellular adhesion. In: The cell surface in development. (Ed. A.A. Moscona), pp. 255–271. New York: J. Wiley and Sons 1974
Rosenberg, M.D.: The relative extensibility of cell surfaces. J. Cell Biol.17, 289–297 (1963)
Rubio, C.A.: The cervical epithelial surface. III. Scanning electron microscopic study in atypias and invasive carcinoma in mice. Acta Cytol.20, 375–380 (1976)
Rubio, C.A., Kranz, I.: The exfoliating cervical epithelial surface in dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and invasive squamous carcinoma. Acta Cytol.20, 144–150 (1976)
Selby, C.C., Biesele, J.J., Grey, C.E.: Electron microscope studies of ascites tumor cells. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.63, 748–773 (1955-1956)
Sheppard, J.R.: Cyclic AMP-Different levels in normal and transformed cells. Nature, New Biol.236, 14–16 (1972)
Spriggs, A.I., Boddington, M.M.: Cytology of effusions. 2nd ed. New York: Grune and Stratton 1968
Spriggs, A.I., Jerrome, D.W.: Aspects particuliers de surface des cellules libres dans les épanchements. Revue de cytologie clinique2, 7–22 (1969)
Spriggs, A.I., Meek, G.A.: Surface specializations of free tumor cells in effusions. J. Path. Bact.82, 151–159 (1961)
Spring-Mills, E., Elias, J.J.: Cell surface differences in ducts from cancerous and non-cancerous human breasts. Science188, 947–949 (1975)
Thrasher, T.V., Richart, R.M.: An ultrastructural comparison of endometrial adenocarcinoma and normal endometrium. Cancer29, 1713–1723 (1972)
Toner, P.G., Carr, K.E.: Cell structure. An introduction to biological electron microscopy. Edinburgh and London: Churchill, Livingstone 1971
Veseley, P., Boyde, A.: The significance of SEM evaluation of the cell surface for tumor cell biology. In: Scanning electron microscopy (Part III). (Ed. O. Johari), pp. 689–696. Chicago, Illinois: IIT Research Institute 1973
Warburg, O.: Über die Ursache des Krebses. In: Holzer, H. and Holldorf, A.W., eds.) Molekulare Biologie des malignen Wachstums. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1966
Watters, W.B., Buck, R.L.: Scanning electron microscopy of mesothelial regeneration in the rat. Lab. Invest.26, 604–609 (1972)
Williams, A.E., Jordan, J.A., Allen, J.M., Murphy, J.F.: The surface ultrastructure of normal and metaplastic cervical epithelia and of carcinoma in situ. Cancer Res.33, 504–513 (1973)
Wong, Y.-Ch., Buck, R.C.: An electron microscopic study of metaplasia of the rat tracheal epithelium in vitamin A deficiency. Lab. Invest.24, 55–66 (1971)
Woyke, S., Domagala, W., Olszewski, W.: Alveolar cell carcinoma of the lung: An ultrastructural study of the cancer cells detected in the pleural fluid. Acta Cytol.16, 63–69 (1972)
Woyke, S., Domagala, W., Olszewski, W.: Ultrastructure of hepatoma cells detected in peritoneal fluid. Acta Cytol.18, 130–136 (1974)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Domagala, W., Koss, L.G. Configuration of surfaces of human cancer cells in effusions. Virchows Arch. B Cell Path. 26, 27–42 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02889533
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02889533