EXPERIMENTAL RADIOTHERAPY AND METASTASIS OF HUMAN LUNG-CANCER XENOGRAFTS IN NUDE-MICE

Using a cell line derived from human lung cancer (AOI), we successfull y established human xenografts in KSN nude mice, which showed high inc idence of multiple spontaneous metastases. The highest incidence of me tastasis in untreated hosts was observed in the spleen followed by the lungs and lymph nodes. The rate of metastasis reached 100% in the mic e bearing large sized tumors, when metastasis to any organ or tissue w as counted. Experimental radiotherapy caused remarkable redistribution of metastatic foci among different organs. Lung metastasis tended to decrease, while metastasis to the liver and the kidney was increased a fter radiotherapy. Radiation-induced production of cytokines was specu lated to be responsible for such an alteration of metastasis pattern.