Abstract
Murine L5178Y-ML cells, when transplanted subcutaneously into the flank of (BALB/c x DBA/2)F1 mice, grew locally and always formed spontaneous metastases in the liver. Even after surgical removal of the primary tumour mass 5 or 7 days after tumour cell inoculation, all mice died due to liver metastases within 18 days. Using this model of tumour metastasis, we examined whether serine protease or deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) would affect metastasis. Spontaneous liver metastasis of L5178Y-ML cells was enhanced by systemic administration of alpha-chymotrypsin at 3, 4 and 5 days or at 5, 6 and 7 days after tumour cell inoculation. This result was consistent with a previous report on blood-borne lung metastasis. In contrast, systemic administration of DNase I at 3, 4 and 5 days or at 5, 6 and 7 days after tumour cell inoculation inhibited liver metastasis. Neither treatment affected primary tumour growth. An influence of DNase I on tumour cell arrest in the microvasculature of the liver was suggested by scanning electron microscopy. DNase I treatment resulted in a statistically significant prolongation of the survival period, however, the effect was not satisfactory. A more striking anti-metastatic treatment resulting in a greater prolongation of the survival period was achieved by combining surgical removal of the primary tumour mass with DNase I treatment. These results suggest that DNase I could be a potential therapeutic agent used in conjunction with surgery to prevent clinical blood-borne metastasis.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sugihara, S., Yamamoto, T., Tanaka, H. et al. Deoxyribonuclease treatment prevents blood-borne liver metastasis of cutaneously transplanted tumour cells in mice. Br J Cancer 67, 66–70 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1993.10
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1993.10
This article is cited by
-
The non-vesicle cell-free DNA (cfDNA) induces cell transformation associated with horizontal DNA transfer
Molecular Biology Reports (2024)
-
Neutrophil extracellular traps: protagonists of cancer progression?
Oncogene (2017)
-
Actin-resistant DNAse I Expression From Oncolytic Adenovirus Enadenotucirev Enhances Its Intratumoral Spread and Reduces Tumor Growth
Molecular Therapy (2016)
-
Neutrophil extracellular traps in cancer progression
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (2014)