Lymphatic dissemination in neoplasia: determination of nuclear volume and DNA content of primitive and regional lymph node Ehrlich tumor cells

Abstract

When inoculated into the footpad of mice, Ehrlich tumor grows in a solid form and disseminates to popliteal lymph nodes. This study was performed in order to characterize the tumor cells that migrated from footpad to popliteal lymph nodes. The nuclear volume of primitive and lymph node tumor cells was measured with a caryometric ocular. DNA quantitation was performed in Feulgen stained slides by scanning cytophotometry. Tumor cells harvested from popliteal lymph nodes one hour after inoculation into the footpad showed no statistical differences in DNA quantitation from original ascitic and footpad tumor cells. Tumor cells in popliteal lymph nodes 30 days after inoculation showed a smaller nuclear volume, but presented the same DNA content as the cells that grew in the footpad. Tumor cells in the footpad 30 days after inoculation showed a greater DNA content than those in the footpad one hour after inoculation.These results suggest a possible selective effect for Ehriich tumor cells when they grow in the footpad, but not when they metastasize to regional lymph node.