TRANSPLANTABILITY AND METASTATIC POTENTIAL OF CHEMICALLY-INDUCED RAT-BRAIN TUMORS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (8) , 228-230
Abstract
From clinical observations it is known that brain tumors generally do not metastasize. No explanation for this is available. The few described cases of distant metastases from primary brain tumors all occurred after surgery of the CNS. The brain does not contain a lymphatic system. The major question in this matter is whether the inability of CNS tumors to metastasize is based on a specific tumor bound property or on specific local factors. Since an experimental model for this situation was not available, brain tumors were induced in rats. About 130 WAG/Rij and Sprague Dawley rats (males and females) were treated with the neurocarcinogen ethylnitroso-urea (ENU) within 24 h after birth. Tumors appeared at the age of 6-29 mo. All tumors were removed after killing the host and transplanted s.c. into syngeneic rats. Histologically the tumors were mostly oligodendrogliomas, schwannomas and several mixed glial tumors. Metastases from these primary tumors were not observed. The transplanted tumors showed metastases in 52% of the cases. Metastases occurred mainly in lungs, liver and lymph nodes. The absence of metastases from primary brain tumors is probably not related to a specific property of brain tumors. Further research is emphasized on specific local factors.

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