Platelet proaggregating activity of human colorectal tumour cell lines does not correlate with the degree of differentiation

Six human colorectal tumour cell lines with various degrees of differentiation were studied. Each of the cell lines studied showed an in vitro platelet proaggregating activity, represented by the induction of typical aggregation waves. This activity was dose-dependent and probably related to a thrombin-dependent mechanism. However, the degree of cell differentiation did not correlate with the proaggregating activity. In fact, significant differences were observed between the two well differentiated cell lines, while a comparison between well and poorly differentiated cell lines did not reveal any difference. These results were confirmed by the ultrastructural observations, indicating that similar platelet-tumour cell interaction may be found in all the cell lines studied. The present results suggest that platelet proaggregating activity of the human colorectal tumour cell lines under investigation is unrelated to their degree of differentiation.