This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by See, W. A. Articles by Williams, R. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by See, W. A. Articles by Williams, R. D.

Pathophysiology of Transitional Tumor Cell Adherence to Sites of Urothelial Injury in Rats: Mechanisms Mediating Intravesical Recurrence Due to Implantation¹

Department of Urology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242

The mechanism by which transitional tumor cells adhere to areas of urothelial injury and the means by which heparin prevents this phenomenon were studied. Scanning electron microscopy and a radiolabeled tumor cell adherence assay were used to assess the activity of heparin and a "nonglycosaminoglycan" thrombolytic agent, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, in preventing tumor cell adherence to areas of urothelial injury. Systemically administered heparin and intravesical therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator duplicated the activity of intravesical heparin. Scanning electron microscopy showed tumor cells entrapped at the injury surface in a RBC/fibrin clot, which was prevented by intravesical heparin. These data suggest that clotting cascade activation by urothelial injury is the mechanism by which particulate adherence to the urothelium occurs. Interruption of this process by local or systemic anticoagulation with heparin or shifting of the equilibrium of clot formation/lysis toward thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator prevents tumor cell adherence. Intravesical thrombolytic therapy may represent a new approach to recurrence prophylaxis for superficial bladder carcinoma.

¹ This work was supported in part by a grant from the American Foundation for Urologic Disease.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 4/21/89. Accepted 6/23/89.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				O. Aranha, D. P. Wood Jr., and F. H. Sarkar Ciprofloxacin Mediated Cell Growth Inhibition, S/G2-M Cell Cycle Arrest, and Apoptosis in a Human Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder Cell Line Clin. Cancer Res., March 1, 2000; 6(3): 891 - 900. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. M. J. Bindels, M. Vermey, R. van den Beemd, W. N. M. Dinjens, and T. H. Van Der Kwast E-Cadherin Promotes Intraepithelial Expansion of Bladder Carcinoma Cells in an in Vitro Model of Carcinoma in Situ Cancer Res., January 1, 2000; 60(1): 177 - 183. [Abstract] [Full Text]