SUPPRESSION OF GROWTH OF BOMIRSKI AB MELANOMA AND ITS METASTASIS IN HAMSTERS BY ANGIOGENESIS INHIBITOR TNP-470

The growth of solid tumors and their metastasis is dependent on the de velopment of new blood vessels (anglogenesis). In this study, we exami ned the effect of the angiogenesis inhibitor TNP-470 on a fast growing melanoma in hamsters. The effect was observed both on tumor growth an d metastasis. Treatment with TNP-470 caused a significant decrease in the rate of tumor growth and suppression of the development of metasta sis in 63% of treated animals. Some of the hamsters treated with TNP-4 70 had the tumor excised and the effect of that operation on the devel opment of metastasis was examined In such cases the inhibitory effect of TNP-470 was weaker than in tumor bearing animals. This indicates th at excision of tumor created more favourable conditions for angiogenes is and that the dose of TNP-470 should be increased to be effective in such conditions.