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Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Blocking Lymph Flow by Suturing Afferent Lymphatic Vessels in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2020
Visualization of fluid drainage pathways in lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes using a mouse model to test a lymphatic
Tetsuya Kodama1, Yuriko Hatakeyama1, Shigeki Kato1
1Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo, Aoba, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan.
Abstract:
Curing/preventing micrometastasis to lymph nodes (LNs) located outside the surgically resected area is essential for improving the morbidity and mortality associated with breast cancer and head and neck cancer. However, no lymphatic therapy system exists that can deliver drugs to LNs located outside the dissection area. Here, we demonstrate proof of concept for a drug delivery system using MXH10/Mo-lpr/lpr mice that exhibit systemic lymphadenopathy, with some peripheral LNs being as large as 10 mm in diameter. We report that a fluorescent solution injected into the subiliac LN (defined as the upstream LN within the dissection area) was delivered successfully to the proper axillary LN (defined as the downstream LN outside the dissection area) through the lymphatic vessels. Our results suggest that this approach could be used before surgical resection to deliver drugs to downstream LNs outside the dissection area. We anticipate that our methodology could be applied clinically, before surgical resection, to cure/prevent micrometastasis in LNs outside the dissection area, using techniques such as ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein catheterization.
Insights
This study introduces a novel lymphatic drug delivery system to target lymph nodes (LNs) outside surgical areas, crucial for preventing cancer metastasis. The method successfully delivered fluorescent tracers to downstream LNs, offering a new therapeutic strategy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Lymphatic System Research
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Micrometastasis to lymph nodes (LNs) outside surgical resection areas significantly impacts breast and head/neck cancer patient outcomes.
- Current therapeutic strategies lack effective methods for treating LNs beyond the dissected region.
- A critical need exists for lymphatic therapy systems capable of targeting distant LNs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the proof of concept for a novel drug delivery system targeting lymph nodes outside the surgical resection area.
- To establish a method for delivering therapeutic agents to downstream LNs to prevent or cure micrometastasis.
- To explore a pre-surgical intervention for enhancing cancer treatment efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized MXH10/Mo-lpr/lpr mice with systemic lymphadenopathy to model lymphatic system drug delivery.
- Administered a fluorescent solution into the subiliac lymph node (upstream, within dissection area).
- Tracked the delivery of the solution to the proper axillary lymph node (downstream, outside dissection area) via lymphatic vessels.
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated the transfer of a fluorescent solution from an upstream LN to a downstream LN through intact lymphatic vessels.
- Confirmed the capability of the lymphatic system to transport substances to LNs located outside the initial injection or surgical site.
- Validated the potential of this method in a preclinical model of lymphadenopathy.
Conclusions:
- The developed drug delivery system shows promise for pre-surgical application to treat or prevent micrometastasis in LNs outside the resection area.
- This approach could significantly improve patient morbidity and mortality by addressing subclinical metastatic disease.
- Future clinical applications may involve techniques like ultrasound-guided catheterization for targeted LN drug delivery.
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