Colonization of the rat liver by syngeneic tumor cells. An experimental approach by in vivo and in situ studies.
Syngeneic colon carcinoma cells and glioma cells were injected into the portal vein of BD IX rats. After various time periods the animals were sacrificed and the livers and lungs were fixed and prepared for histology. Atypical cells were observed in the liver 4 and 7 days after the injection of tumor cells, whereas distinct colonies of both colon carcinoma and glioma cells were demonstrated after 14 days. Lung metastases of both tumor cell types were seen after 14 and 30 days. Furthermore, injection of glioma and carcinoma cells into the tail vein gave detectable lung metastases after 7 and 4 days respectively. Intraperitoneal injection of tumor cells resulted in the accumulation of large tumor masses, particularly in the mesentery. By in situ perfusions of the liver with tumor cells included in the perfusion medium it was possible to establish that all the tumor cells were arrested in the course of 4 min. In contrast, normal rat leukocytes were not trapped in the liver, whereas trypsin-treated leukocytes were, suggesting the importance of trypsin-sensitive structures for binding to hepatic tissue. The binding of both glioma and carcinoma cells to the liver and the ensuing growth of tumor nodules in this organ indicate a lack of specificity on part of the malignant cell types for metastasis to the liver in the rat. Both tumor cell types colonized the first organ encountered after injection.
D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002460:Cell Line; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D010477:Perfusion; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014410:Tumor Stem Cell Assay / Q000379:methods