PREVENTION OF PERITONEAL METASTASIS OF CANCER WITH DEXTRAN SULFATE - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN MICE

Peritoneal metastases occur most often in the greater omentum, where t umor implantation sites are densely distributed. We used dextran sulfa te (S-Dex) as an anti-cell-adherence agent to prevent i.p. seeded mali gnant cells from causing peritoneal metastases. S-Dex was tested for i ts antiadherent activity against B-16 melanoma cells on plastic, and w as examined for its ability to prevent implantation in the omentum and to improve survival in mice after B-16 melanoma was inoculated i.p. S -Dex prevented B-16 melanoma cells from adhering to the plastic wall. S-Dex reduced the number of B-16 melanoma cells implanted into the gre ater omentum and improved the survival of mice inoculated with B-16 me lanoma cells. We conclude that S-Dex attenuated peritoneal metastases when B-16 melanoma cells were seeded i.p.