This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Godleski, J. J. Articles by Leighton, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Godleski, J. J. Articles by Leighton, J.

Studies on the Role of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes in Neoplastic Disease with the Chick Embryo and Walker Carcinosarcoma 256 in Vivo and in Vitro¹

Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213

The role of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) in neoplastic disease has received limited study, despite frequent observation of PMN within both clinical and experimental neoplasms. It was noted that the Pgh. 63–79 tissue culture line of Walker Carcinosarcoma 256, when grown on the chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo, consistently had a large PMN infiltrate within the lesion produced. This experimental system therefore was used in this investigation to determine the role of the PMN as a host defense against growth and invasion of neoplastic cells. It was found that PMN were not the primary defense of the host in this system, but were involved after the process of cell degeneration had been initiated by other mechanisms. The PMN then perpetuated this process by taking material into phagocytic vacuoles, digesting it, subsequently dying, and releasing enzymes into the environment.

Techniques for in vitro isolation and observation of PMN and tumor cell interaction on coverslips were devised. With these methods, previously undescribed contact phenomena between PMN and tumor cells were observed. These included indentation of the tumor cell membrane by PMN, attraction between these 2 cell types, and rounding of the tumor cell following repeated contact with PMN.

¹ This investigation was supported by Research Grant P-442A from the American Cancer Society, by Research Grant CA-10412 from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, and by Grant DRG 950A from the Damon Runyon Memorial Fund for Cancer Research.

² Intern in Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.

Received 8/ 8/69. Accepted 3/23/70.