An experimental study on the lymphatic dissemination of the solid Ehrlich tvjnor in mice

Abstract

Metastasis to regional lymph nodes is an important step in the dissemination of cancer. The mechanisms of this dissemination are poorly understood, probably due to the paucity of authentic experimental models. The aim of the present study was to characterize the Ehrlich tumor as a model of lymphatic metastasis in mice. Animals were inoculated into the footpad and the popliteal lywph nodes were collected at several times post-inoculation in order to evaluate their weight, histopathological aspects,and mast cells quantitation, since these cells are reported to be implicated in host's response to tumor. The migration of tumor cells was detected by a biological assay as early as 1 hour post-inoculation. The solid tumor growth in the footpad was measured until day 30 post-inoculation and the histological alterations during this period were also studied. Ehrlich tumor was considered as a suitable model for the study of lymphatic metastasis.