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Some aspects of blood borne tumour emboli associated with thrombosis

Beobachtungen zum Zusammenhang zwischen hämatogenen Tumorzellemboli und Thrombose

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Summary

The ultrastructural morphology of the tumour cycle which has as one of its features the blood-borne tumour embolus associated with thrombosis is illustrated by examples of four phases.

  1. (1)

    The intrinsic vasculature of tumours influences the process of intravasation of tumour cells to form bloodborne emboli. Scanning electron microscopy of melanoma tumours reveals channels containing erythrocytes which are sinusoidal in appearance.

  2. (2)

    The reaction of the circulating blood to the villi and folds of tumour cells is to coat the surface with plasma proteins and platelets. Walker 256 carcinoma cells become encrusted with platelets following agitation with rat platelet rich plasma.

  3. (3)

    Damaged endothelium appears to provide a more secure adhesional site for the tumour embolus. Platelets on a damaged site may provide an active adhesional region for the platelets on the passing embolus.

  4. (4)

    Tumour cells migrate through the endothelial layer from the adherent embolus and can be held up at the level of the basement membrane of the endothelium.

Zusammenfassung

Die Ultrastruktur der Tumordisseminierung, zu deren Merkmalen unter anderem der mit Thrombose assoziierte hämatogene Tumorzellembolus gehört, wird an Modellen von vier Phasen dargestellt.

  1. (1)

    Das Gefäßsystem der Tumoren ist Voraussetzung für den Intravasationsprozeß von Tumorzellen. An einem malignen Melanom zeigt die Raster-Elektronenmikroskopie ein sinusoides Kanalsystem, das Erythrocyten enthält.

  2. (2)

    Die Reaktion des zirkulierenden Blutes auf die Oberflächenstruktur von Tumorzellen besteht in der Umhüllung mit Plasmaproteinen und Blutplättchen. Walker 256 Carcinomzellen umgeben sich mit Plättchen, wenn sie mit dem Plättchen-reichen Plasma von Ratten in Verbindung gebracht werden.

  3. (3)

    Eine Endothelläsion scheint einen sicheren Ort für die Adhäsion eines Tumorzellembolus zu bieten. Die an einer geschädigten Endothelstelle befindlichen Thrombocyten können ihrerseits eine adhäsionsaktive Region für den Tumorzell-Plättchen-Embolus bilden.

  4. (4)

    Ausgehend von dem adhärenten Tumorzellembolus wandern die Tumorzellen (Modell: Mäuselymphem) durch das Endothel, wo sie von der Basalmembran aufgehalten werden können.

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Warren, B.A. Some aspects of blood borne tumour emboli associated with thrombosis. Z. Krebsforsch. 87, 1–15 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00285068

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