Patterns of spontaneous metastasis manifested by three rat prostate adenocarcinomas.

Three transplantable rat prostate adenocarcinoma cell lines were assessed for patterns of metastasis, ie, routes of dissemination and larger organ(s) selected for implantation. Two lines (I and III) were disseminated only through ipsilateral lymphatic channels to the lungs. The third cell line (II) was disseminated through lymphatic and blood channels to lungs, liver, and kidneys. The pattern of spontaneous metastasis is a characteristic of the tumor cell; but there is evidence that the rate and extent of metastasis can be modified experimentally.