Analysis of the state of differentiation of two rat colon carcinoma clones with distinct tumorigenic properties.

The presence of some characteristics of normal rat intestinal epithelial cells was studied on two clones originating from a single rat colon carcinoma. These clones differed by their tumorigenic properties in the syngeneic host. However, they grow similarly in vitro and in immuno-deprived animals. The PROb clone which had the ability to form progressive tumors in the syngeneic host appeared to possess more features of differentiated cells than the REGb clone which was immunologically rejected by syngeneic hosts. Indeed, the morphology of the cells was different, the REBb cells having a more fibroblastic appearance while the PROb cells had the capacity to form domes characterizing the functional polarization of the cell layer. The two clones could also be distinguished by their expression of proteins of intermediate filaments. Both expressed cytokeratins showing their epithelial origin, but only REGb cells displayed vimentin which is characteristic of mesenchymal or poorly differentiated epithelial cells. Furthermore, analysis of the expression of a series of glycoconjugate tissue antigens and an unknown protein (p120) showed that the PROb cells resembled more the normal adult digestive epithelium than the REGb cells did. In conclusion, it appears that in this model, the most aggressive cells, those resisting to the constraints imposed by the immune system, are also the more differentiated ones.