Phagocytosis of Candida albicans by metastatic and non metastatic human breast cancer cell lines in vitro

Experiments were carried out to investigate the kinetic characteristics of phagocytosis of candida by metastatic (MCF-7 and ZR-75-1) and nonmetastatic (HCC70) breast cancer cell (BCC) lines. Cancer cells were mixed with candida at a ratio of 1:10 and attachment/phagocytosis were examined using cytospin preparations stained with either Giemsa or tannic acid and May-Grünwald Giemsa and by using flow cytometry. A high attachment of candida to cancer cells (29–39%) was detected as early as 10 min. Following attachment, cancer cells phagocytized yeast. The phagocytic activity of MCF-7 and ZR-75 cells was significantly higher (58–61%) than that of HCC70 cells (26%). A similar trend was observed with respect to the phagocytic index. Phagocytosis of candida by tumor cells was inhibited significantly by both cytochalasin B (50%) and by lowering temperature to 4 °C (66%). Phagocytosis was not associated with oxidative burst in any cell lines used. In conclusion, metastatic breast cancer cells possess phagocytic activity which may explain their invasive property.