Ricerche Sperimentali Sulla Metastatizzazione Neoplastica per via Ematica

Abstract

Albino rats were intravenously injected with the ascites type of 256 Walker carcinosarcoma. It was observed that neoplastic cells pass through the pulmonary filter and may be isolated from the arterial blood. Most animals, however, showed lung metastases; the 20 per cent had metastases to kidneys, adrenals and spleen, occasionally without pulmonary localization. The liver was always found to be free from metastases. Even in those cases without macroscopical involvement of spleen, lungs, liver and kidneys, the intraperitoneal transplantation of fragments of such organs into healthy animals induced solid Walker tumours. The site of metastases was not modified by panirradiation and by hormonal treatment. Results are discussed and the conclusion is drawn that the mechanical Walther's theory does not settle the true problem of the metastatization which concerns the development of the tumour cells rather than their spread in the various organs.