Change in leukocyte count in peripheral blood of nude mouse bearing transplanted gynecological malignant tumors

Abstract

The cells of 25 cell lines derived from malignant tumors in the gynecological field were transplanted subcutaneously into nude mice. The growth of the grafted tumors and changes in the number of leukocytes and leukocyte hemograms of the peripheral blood were examined, and the following conclusions were obtained. (1) Leukocytosis (more than 20,000/mm3) was observed in only 2 cell lines (ovarian poorly differentiated clear cell carcinoma (HUOCA-II) and ovarian anaplastic carcinoma (HTBOA] among 24 cell lines transplanted (SKN cell line could not be transplanted). (2) A positive correlation was found between the growth of the grafted tumor and leukocytosis. The leukocyte hemogram revealed that 98% of the cells were granulocytes (neutrophils). (3) After resection of the tumor, the number of leukocytes and the leukocyte hemograms returned to normal. (4) No metastasis to the bone marrow or inflammation was found in the nude mice bearing tumors and showing leukocytosis. Further when bone marrow cells of mouse and human were cultured in soft agar containing conditioned medium of HUOCA-II and HTBOA cells colonies of leukocytes were observed in which 98% were granulocytes (neutrophils). It is concluded from the results above that the marked granulocytosis found in the tumor-bearing mice was caused in part by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF).