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An Electron Microscopic Study of the Invasion of Ascites Tumor Cells into the Abdominal Wall¹

( Chester Beatty Research Institute, Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Cancer Hospital, Fulham Road, London, England)

Studies utilizing the electron microscope, mice, and Ehrlich ascites cells, indicated that the invasion of the peritoneal wall by ascites tumor cells may be divided into several stages.

Following initial changes in the connective tissue, the mesothelial cells become modified so that their contacts with neighboring cells become broken and they assume a more rounded form. It is presumed that they then exfoliate, leaving empty spaces on the basement membrane. The tumor cells play an indirect part in this process and it is probably the result of an immunologic reaction between tumor and host.

Tumor cells rapidly fill the spaces left by exfoliated mesothelial cells, so that eventually a continuous layer of tumor cells forms on the basement membrane. This suggests that the tumor cells have a strong preferential affinity for the basement membrane.

Eventually, localized disruptions occur in the basement membrane through which the tumor cells penetrate into the peritoneal connective tissue. It is probable that this is an active process of the tumor cells. Tumor cells that do invade then proliferate in the connective tissue.

¹ This investigation has been supported by grants to the Chester Beatty Research Institute (Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Cancer Hospital) from the Medical Research Council and the British Empire Cancer Campaign for Research, and by Public Health Service research grant CA-03188-08 from the National Cancer Institute, USPHS.

² Present address: Department of Pathology, University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Received 11/30/64.