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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

A Novel High-resolution In vivo Imaging Technique to Study the Dynamic Response of Intracranial Structures to Tumor Growth and Therapeutics
12:09

A Novel High-resolution In vivo Imaging Technique to Study the Dynamic Response of Intracranial Structures to Tumor Growth and Therapeutics

Published on: June 16, 2013

Influence of vasoactive drugs on local tumor blood flow

J Mattsson, J Lilja, H I Peterson

    European Journal of Cancer & Clinical Oncology
    |July 1, 1982
    PubMed

    Insights

    Vasoactive drugs affect tumor and normal tissue blood flow differently. Noradrenaline reduced flow in both, while papaverine only affected normal tissue, suggesting tumors may be maximally dilated.

    Area of Science:

    • Pharmacology
    • Oncology
    • Vascular Biology

    Background:

    • Understanding tumor vascularization is crucial for developing effective cancer therapies.
    • Vasoactive drugs can modulate blood flow, potentially impacting drug delivery and treatment efficacy.
    • The microvasculature of tumors exhibits unique characteristics compared to normal tissues.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the effects of specific vasoactive drugs on the local blood flow of rat sarcoma and normal subcutaneous tissue.
    • To characterize the microvascular architecture of the transplantable rat sarcoma using transmission electron microscopy.
    • To determine the differential responses of tumor and normal tissue vasculature to vasoactive agents.

    Main Methods:

    • Local [133Xe] clearance technique was employed to measure blood flow in tumor and normal subcutaneous tissue.
    • Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to examine the microvascular structure of the tumor.
    • Administration of vasoactive drugs (noradrenaline, isoprenaline, papaverine) and dose-response studies were conducted.

    Main Results:

    • Noradrenaline significantly reduced blood flow in both tumor and normal subcutaneous tissue, with similar sensitivity observed in both vascular beds.
    • Isoprenaline did not alter blood flow in either tissue type.
    • Papaverine significantly increased blood flow in normal subcutaneous tissue but had no effect on tumor blood flow.

    Conclusions:

    • The tumor vascular bed may exist in a state of near-maximal dilatation under normal conditions.
    • Differential responses to papaverine suggest distinct regulatory mechanisms in tumor versus normal vasculature.
    • These findings have implications for understanding tumor hemodynamics and the potential use of vasoactive drugs in cancer treatment.

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