Factors that affect metastasis in virus-induced mouse mammary tumors

Two hundred and forty-one mammary tumor-bearing breeding female mice of the BALB/cf C3H and BALB/ cfRIII strains, carrying milk-transmitted murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV) of C3H and RIII origin, respectively, were studied to evaluate the factors that affect tumor metastasis. Only lung metastases were considered and the following factors taken in account: MuMTV inducing variant (C3H, RIII), number of deliveries, tumor histotype , number of tumors per mouse, clinical duration of tumors, tumor size, and tumor growth rate. Only the number of deliveries, the tumor size and the number of tumors per mouse were found to significantly influence the rate of metastasis. The tumor growth rate affects concurrently with tumor size the metastatic process. In fact, the larger the tumor the higher the tumor growth rate. This direct relationship is significant (P less than 0.01) and, in case of lung metastases at autopsy, there was a prevalence of large tumors (greater than 2 cm) and high growth rate (greater than 0.3 mm/day). The discordance of these data with those concerning mammary tumor metastasis in virgin females of the same two strains, the enhancing effect of pregnancies on metastatic spread of tumors, and the significance of results for the understanding of the general mechanisms of tumor metastasis are discussed.