[Hemorheological study on the process of tumor invasion and lymphatic metastasis].

Mouse transplantable hepatoma (H22) was used as an experimental model for lymphatic metastasis. The tumor cells were transplanted subcutaneously into right footpads of inbred 615-strain mice. The hemorheological changes during invasion and lymphatic metastasis in mice were observed. The results of histological examination showed that tumor invasion was divided into early, middle and late invasive stages, and the metastasis was divided into early, middle, late and final metastasis periods. Tumor invasion began 3 days after tumor transplantation, and the late stage of invasion was found at 9 days. Metastasis began 6 days after transplantation; at 19 days metastasis to lymph nodes in the right side reached grade IV. Metastasis to lymph nodes in the left side appeared 14 days after tumor transplantation. In the early and middle invasive stages only plasma viscosity increased significantly, while other hemorheological values were unchanged. The blood viscosity and aggregation of red blood cells decreased significantly after the metastatic late stage. The hematocrit of red blood cells began to decrease in the final stage of metastasis, and in the meantime, the rigidity of red blood cells began to increase, while plasma viscosity showed no changes after the late metastatic stage. The results and mechanism of hemorheological changes are discussed.