J026013 Characteristics of the interstitial fluid pressure in groin lymph node associated with tumor growth

Abstract

Growth of most human tumors leads to elevated interstitial fluid pressure (IFP). The mechanisms underlying the high tumor IFP are still not fully understood, but may include increased vascular permeability and abnormal lymph drainage leading to increased fluid volume, followed by elevated IFP. The resultant IFP may lead to poor and heterogeneous uptake of macromolecular and nanoparticle therapeutic agents, thus leading to resistance to immunotherapy and gene therapy. Here we show that tumor cells were inoculated in groin lymph nodes, and the variation of IFP with time was measured by using MXH/lpr mice with human size lymph nodes. The IFP was increased in tumor bearing mouse. Corresponding changes in lymph vessels area, tumor volume, and IFP suggest that the increased pressure is caused by defective lymph drainage and solid stress generated by tumor cells growing in a low compliant environment. This study suggests a possibility for future studies of cancer metastasis.