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Kinetics of Proliferation, Migration, and Death of L1210 Ascites Cells¹

Department of Radiology, Radiation Therapy Division [K. G. H.], and Department of Surgery [M. H.], Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210

L1210 leukemia cells were labeled with multiple injections of iododeoxyuridine-¹²⁵I or tritiated thymidine and injected i.p. into new, nonradioactive hosts. The overall growth rate of the prelabeled L1210 cells was evaluated in terms of cell cycle length, growth fraction, and cell loss due to cell migration and cell death.

Following implantation into a new host, there was a 6- to 12-hr lag period before peritoneal L1210 cells started to divide. During the first 3 days of tumor growth, the average generation time remained constant at 8.5 to 9.5 hr. Then the length of the cell cycle gradually increased until it reached 32 to 36 hr shortly before the death of the mice. The growth fraction remained close to unity throughout tumor development.

Implantation of L1210 cells i.p. was followed by rapid migration of tumor cells from the injection site to other organs. Fractional L1210 metastasis was very high during early phases of tumor growth, and much slower in advanced tumors. L1210 cells injected at extraperitoneal sites did not invade the peritoneal cavity.

The rate of cell death depended on the location of tumor cells within the host. L1210 cells located outside the peritoneal cavity died at the fractional rate of 20%/day. Cell death among peritoneal L1210 cells was much lower (less than 5%/day) and did not significantly influence the overall growth of L1210 ascites populations.

¹ This investigation was supported by the Bremer Foundation Fund, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.

Received 8/24/70. Accepted 11/12/70.