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Experimental Studies of Factors Influencing Hepatic Metastases

XVI. Rheologic Alterations¹

Department of Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Research, and Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The incidence and size of hepatic metastases following intraportal injection of known numbers of Walker carcinoma cells were increased after administration of low, medium, and high molecular weight dextrans. The dextrans were not hepatotoxic, and their effect on tumor growth appeared to be unrelated to alterations they induced in viscosity of the blood or hematocrit. Simple suspension of tumor cell inocula in low molecular weight dextran also resulted in augmentation of tumor growth, suggesting that the dextrans may exert more direct, albeit at present unclear, growth-promoting effect on tumors.

During the course of these studies a consistent and roughly quantitative relationship was observed between tumor growth and increase in circulating blood volume resulting from the administration of low molecular weight dextran or other modalities such as plasma or saline infusions. Possible mechanisms accounting for this effect are considered.

The failure to observe alteration in blood viscosity following liver injury, a modality consistently noted to augment tumor growth in the experimental model utilized for evaluating metastases, makes it highly unlikely that the effect of liver injury on tumor growth is related to the rheologic alteration that has been observed to follow tissue injury in man and dog.

The results of this study further suggest that ultilization of agents that expand blood volume during neoplastic surgery might be injudicious.

¹ Aided by USPHS Grants CA-05949 and CA-06670 and by American Cancer Society Grant P-142.

Received 6/15/65.