[Tumor metastasis as affected by reduced food rations]

The study was concerned with the relationship between the level of Lewis carcinoma spread in mice and a 2.5-fold cut in the daily ration of standard granulated feeds. After removal of primary tumor, or both before and after the removal, metastases did not occur in 80% of malnourished animals; metastases developed in the remaining 20%, but their size and number decreased 2-4-fold. The antimetastatic effect persisted after the rations returned to normal. The said effect was not observed when primary tumor remained intact or the rations were cut when metastases were already apparent.