Incisional biopsy and seeding in hamster cheek pouch carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Pathology
• Carcinogenesis

Background:

• Dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) is a potent carcinogen used to induce oral tumors in animal models.
• Surgical procedures can potentially spread malignant cells, leading to tumor recurrence or metastasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential for surgical blades contaminated with cancer cells to induce secondary tumors at incision sites.
• To evaluate the influence of anatomical location on tumor cell transplantation and growth.

Main Methods:

• Surgical blades were contaminated with DMBA-induced cheek pouch carcinomas in hamsters.
• Contaminated blades were used to create incisions in various anatomical locations (lip, tongue, cheek pouch, back) and for cytologic smears.
• Animals were analyzed at acute (3 hours) and chronic (7 weeks) post-surgery time points for tumor formation and metastasis.

Main Results:

• Malignant cells were detected at incision sites within 3 hours post-surgery.
• Tumors developed in incision sites of the lower lip and tongue by 7 weeks post-surgery.
• No tumors formed in the untreated cheek pouch or back incisions, but cervical lymph node metastases occurred in ~50% of animals.

Conclusions:

• Surgical instruments contaminated with tumor cells can act as vectors for tumor cell transplantation.
• The anatomical site of incision influences the success of tumor cell implantation and subsequent growth.
• Metastasis to regional lymph nodes is a significant risk following iatrogenic tumor cell spread.