The Role of Suture Material on Tumor Implantation

Abstract

Cole kindled a new flame in the field of cancer research in 1952, when he pointed out the high incidence of recurrence at the suture line following primary resection and end-to-end anastomosis for carcinoma of the colon.¹ About the same time, Morgan and Lloyd-Davies,² and Goligher and associates³ reported similar findings. Haverback and Smith⁴ emphasized the role of the suture in transplanting tumor cells and stimulated additional research related to the control and prevention of this form of tumor transplantation. In previous studies from this laboratory, mechanical methods have been of little value in the control of tumor recurrence at the anastomotic area.^5,6 Chemotherapeutic irrigation of the anastomosis also was ineffective in reducing the incidence of tumor recurrence at the anastomotic site.^5,7,8 Gubareff and Suntzeff⁹ showed that a suture treated with a weak iodine solution effectively decreased the transplantation of a highly malignant rhabdomyosarcoma