OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of tissue factor(TF) in hematogenous metastasis of human colorectal carcinoma cells (LOVO) in vivo.

METHODSThe eukaryotic expression vectors pcDNA3.1/Zeo bearing either sense or antisense TFc DNA were transfected into LOVO cells by lipofectamine 2000. TF protein expression in the transfected cells was detected by Western blot. Eighteen nude mice (Babl/c nu/nu) were randomly divided into three groups, and then transfected and untransfected LOVO cells were implanted via tail vein respectively. The nude mice were sacrificed 8 weeks after implantation, and the number of metastatic nodules in the lung was used to assess the metastatic ability of LOVO cells.

RESULTSCompared with the untransfected group, TF expression of LOVO cells and the numbers of metastatic nodules in the lung increased in sense-TF cDNA transfection group (P< 0.05, P< 0.01, respectively), whereas decreased in antisense-TF cDNA transfection group (P< 0.05, P< 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONTF can increase the hematogenous metastatic ability of human colorectal carcinoma cells (LOVO) in vivo.