TUMOR IMPLANTATION IN GASTROINTESTINAL WO UND SITES

The natural history of surgically treated intraabdominal malignancy is such that a large proportion of patients present tumor recurrence at wound sites. Numerous factors operating within the wound environment a re important determinants in tumor cells arrest or growth at these sit es. This article describes the interactions between the traumatized ti ssues and tumor cells, and attempts to understand the important factor s that may have an impact on implantation of cancer cells in wound sit es. Modifications of these biologic factors may represent new perspect ives for preventing tumor recurrence in intraabdominal wound sites.