An experimental study of the spread of tumor cells through the lymph node.

Intralymphatic inoculation of rat ascites hepatoma AH 130 was carried out to elucidate the function of the regional lymph node as a barrier against tumor spread. Tumor cells reaching regional lymph nodes decreased in number 48 to 72 hr after inoculation. Ten percent of tumor cells injected into lymphatic vessels appeared in the thoracic duct within 3 hr after injection. Bioassay tests revealed that transnodal tumor cells were viable in the thoracic duct.