DMSO-induced changes in the procoagulant and fibrinolytic activity of B16 melanoma cells: Influence on lung colony formation

In this study DMSO (dimethylsulphoxide) was used as a tool to test the significance ofin vitro modifications of procoagulant and fibrinolytic activity of tumor cells for theirin vivo metastatic ability. Bl6 melanoma cells were chosen as the experimental model. After four days' treatment DMSO increased both the procoagulant and fibrinolytic (plasminogen activator) activity of B16 melanoma cells in a dose-related manner. DMSO treated cells showed significantly greater lung colonizing ability than untreated cells. Our results indicate that DMSO treatmentin vitro can modulate procoagulant and fibrinolytic activity and the metastatic ability of B16 melanoma cells; however a direct causal relationship between thesein vitro andin vivo effects remains to be established.