STUDIES WITH RADIOACTIVE DI-AZO DYES. III. THE DISTRIBUTON OF RADIOACTIVE DYES IN TUMOR-BEARING MICE 1

Abstract

A study of the distribution of tagged trypan blue and Evans blue in the organs and tissues of mice with tumors. The authors report a widespread distribution of the dye, normally, with about 50% of the dose, at the end of 24 hrs., involved in excretion and found in the liver, bile, intestines, and feces. Kidneys and spleen also take up large amts. of the dye. Tumors of a variety of types took up the dye to the order of 1.5 to 3.5% of the dose/g. of tissue. This uptake is lower than liver by 50% and in the same range as spleen and skin. Areas of necrosis within tumors show accumulation of dye roughly in proportion to their blood supply. Thus chronic caseous necrotic areas show little of the blood-borne colloid, whereas acutely hemorrhagic areas accumulate the dye to a greater extent than the surrounding wall. The authors conclude that such radioactive colloids might ultimately become useful as carriers of radiation insofar as the substance permeates into tumor tissue wherever it is; that other dyes of the same group may be made radioactive by the same technique and might show more preferential uptake by tumors; and that coincidental therapy with agents producing necrosis in tumors would be a logical means of securing greater uptake by the tumor.