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The influence of nitrogen mustard upon the establishment of lung metastases following injection of intravenous autologous cells in the benzo( A )pyrene‐induced rat fibrosarcoma
Author(s) -
Cobb L. M.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910030411
Subject(s) - fibrosarcoma , nitrogen mustard , lung , pathology , pyrene , medicine , chemotherapy , metastasis , incidence (geometry) , peripheral , carcinogen , chemistry , cancer , cyclophosphamide , organic chemistry , physics , optics
When rats bearing a chemically induced tumour were treated with methyldi (β‐chloroethyl) amine hydrochloride (HN2), a higher percentage developed lung “metastases” than in a series of untreated controls. Because the primary benzo (a)‐ pyrene‐induced fibrosarcoma does not metastasize spontaneously, lung “metastases” were induced by removing all but 250 mg of the primary tumour and re‐injecting an estimated 10 6 live cells intravenously. Macroscopic and/or microscopic lung metastases were identified in 23% (7/31) of the control animals at the time the experiment was terminated (day 36). The incidence of rats with lung metastases was increased to 79% (23/29) if the rats were treated with HN2. The HN2 was given at the maximum tolerated dose on days 0, 3, 6, 12, 15 and 18 and the cells prepared from the primary tumour and re‐injected on day 9. HN2 produced a gradual fall in the peripheral lymphocytes, reaching 37% of the initial value by day 18. The possible relationship between the HN2‐induced fall in peripheral lymphocytes and the increased incidence of lung metastases is discussed.