THE SPLEEN CAN INFLUENCE THE METASTASIS OF AH130 HEPATOMA-CELLS IN RATS

The effect of pathophysiological conditions due to disturbance of the spleen is still unclear. We studied the effects of splenectomy in norm al and methylcellulose-induced hypersplenic rats on the development of pulmonary metastases created by intravenous injection of ascites cont aining AH130 hepatoma cells from male Hos-Donryu rats. Growth of metas tatic lesions in the lung was not affected by splenectomy in normal ra ts, but was increased by splenectomy in hypersplenic rats. Overall, th ere were fewer pulmonary metastases in rats with hypersplenism, but af ter splenectomy rats with hypersplenism had a significantly greater nu mber of metastases. than did normal rats. The metastases rate correlat ed somewhat with changes in the blood coagulation and T lymphocyte pro file. There is a relationship between the spleen and formation of meta stases in cancer. Formation of metastases in the lung was affected mos t by splenectomy in hypersplenism. To elucidate the mechanism by which metastases are formed in the lung under these pathologic conditions, further studies on the exact role of the spleen are required.