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The Effect of Protein Depletion on the Host Response to Transplantable Rat Tumor Walker 256

(From the Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago 37, Ill.)

The effects of protein depletion on tumor growth and the response of the host to the presence of transplantable Walker 256 tumor were studied in rats. Protein depletion had a profound effect on the growth of the tumor in a 14-day period. Tumors in rats depleted of protein were less than one-fourth as large as those in nondepleted rats. The primary effect seemed to be on the latent period of the tumors of the depleted animals, since the relative rates of growth of tumors in depleted and nondepleted rats were comparable. In the nondepleted tumor-bearing animals, there was an increased plasma volume, liver wet weight, and increased water content of the liver. The presence of the tumor in the depleted host did not cause an increase in plasma volume or liver wet weight, but it was associated with an increased water content of the liver. Total circulating serum protein was not altered in conjunction with the increased plasma volume of the nondepleted rats. The concentration of liver protein was decreased in both the nondepleted and depleted tumor-bearing animals.

Received 7/25/50.