Ionizing radiation modulates cell surface integrin expression and adhesion of COLO-320 cells to collagen and fibronectin in vitro.

Purpose: Adhesion of tumor cells to endothelial cells and to the extracellular matrix is a key step in the initial phase of metastasis. Since radiotherapy of tumors can induce alterations of the cell surface, we investigated the effect of ionizing radiation on the expression of integrins in the colorectal tumor cell line COLO-320 and the modulation of adhesion capacity of irradiated cells to collagen and fibronectin.

Material And Methods: The cell surface expression of a broad range of integrins on COLO-320 cells was determined by flow cytometry during 144 hours after X-irradiation.