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Inhibitory effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and theophylline on the aggregation of human breast tumour cell line BT-20

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Abstract

DISSOCIATED cells from embryos are able to reaggregate to form multicellular structures resembling those of the original tissue1,2, this ability being inversely proportional to the age of the embryo1,3 or to the age of the cells in tissue culture4. This intracellular adhesion is tissue specific, and is believed to have a key role in growth and morphological differentiation5. It has also been noted that many tumour cell lines can reaggregate in the same condition as embryonic cells6–10. Leighton has observed the formation of small aggregates when tumour cells were grown in cellulose sponge11. He directs attention to the fact that many clinical carcinomas appear as aggregates or nests of cells, and suggests that factors intrinsic to the formation of aggregates are involved in the spread of cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Bioassay Laboratory, Department of Pathology, The Medical College of Pennsylvania, 3300 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19129

    RUY TCHAO & JOSEPH LEIGHTON

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  1. RUY TCHAO
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  2. JOSEPH LEIGHTON
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TCHAO, R., LEIGHTON, J. Inhibitory effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and theophylline on the aggregation of human breast tumour cell line BT-20. Nature 259, 220–222 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/259220a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/259220a0

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