Viable Tumor Cells in Blood and Lungs of Mice with Metastasizing and Non-Metastasizing Transplantable Tumors

Abstract

Summary

Experiments were conducted to study blood-borne tumor emboli for non-metastasizing, transplantable mouse tumors. Susceptible mice were inoculated with blood and lung brei from non-metastasizing, transplantable tumor-bearing animals. Intraperitoneal tumor growth resulting from viable tumor cells in the inocula was obtained from lung tissue in the 3 non-metastasizing tumors Sa, Sb, and GL/46; and from blood in the case of Sa and GL/46. The same procedure was followed with blood and lung brei from metastasizing, transplantable tumor-bearing mice. Here, viable tumor cells were demonstrated in the blood and lung tissue of hosts for all tumors used. That metastases did not appear in hosts of Sa, Sb and GL/46 is therefore not due to absence of embolism, but to other factors which are discussed.