We selected the clones with the highest and lowest expression level of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/vascular permeability factor or interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the highly tumorigenic and metastatic human UC cell line 253J B-V. Tumorigenicity and production of spontaneous lymph node metastases were evaluated 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after orthotopic implantation of each specific expression clone into the urinary bladder of athymic nude mice.
Our results strongly suggest an association between IL-8 expression, induction and progression of colorectal carcinoma and the development of colorectal liver metastases.