Changes in anatomical distribution of tumour lesions induced by platelet-active drugs

To examine the effect of platelet-active drugs on the spread of blood-borne tumour cells, two murine tumours, sarcoma 180 (S-180) and TLX-5 lymphoma, were selected. Following intravenous (IV) injection into CBA mice the former elicited thrombocytopenia and formed discrete pulmonary tumours, whereas the latter failed to elicit thrombocytopenia and formed discrete tumours in all visceral organs examined except the lungs. S-180 cells were injected IV into mice pre-treated with RA233 (known to prevent thrombocytopenia and thrombus formation) and TLX-5 cells were injected IV into mice pre-treated with Corynebacterium parvum (known to induce thrombocytopenia and thrombus formation). RA233 pre-treatment did not change survival time or incidence of S-180 pulmonary tumours but did result in a higher incidence of extrapulmonary tumours and a lower tumour cell burden immediately after injection. Pre-treatment with C. parvum resulted in a higher TLX-5 tumour cell burden but not discrete tumours in the lungs. On the basis of known drug activities it is proposed that thrombocytopenia induced in these experiments is in part a reflection of thrombus formation in the lungs which influences the speed of passage of tumour cells through capillaries. In some cases this may lead to a changed anatomical distribution of tumour lesions.