The effect of iron dextran on ferritin content and 131I-antiferritin localization in experimental hepatomas.

Polyclonal 131I rabbit antirat ferritin localizes in certain hepatoma models. The effect of intraperitoneal iron dextran on tumor and sera ferritin content and tumor and normal tissue localization with 131I antiferritin was studied. Separate groups of 10-12 animals were injected with escalating doses of 131I-antiferritin IgG, or nonspecific IgG, one week after injection with iron dextran or normal saline. The results demonstrate that tumor, serum, and normal tissue ferritin content was increased after iron dextran administration but tumor localization increased after administration of 131I-antiferritin in the H4II-E and 7800 models. The 3924A and 7777 models showed no tumor localization with or without iron dextran but did show an increase in normal tissue localization after iron dextran. Immunoperoxidase staining of tissues with antiferritin revealed increased staining in the liver and spleen and only a slight increase in the tumors after iron dextran was administered. The results demonstrate that tumor localization is a complex phenomenon that depends on normal tissue, sera, and tumor-antigen distribution.