Experimental Intestinal Cancer Research with Special Reference to Human Pathology

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter systematizes the data available in the literature on experimental intestinal neoplasms and compares them with the findings on colonic and rectal tumors in man. Considerable advances have occurred in the study of morphology and morphogenesis of intestinal cancer, which contribute to the elucidation of the mechanisms of human colon carcinogenesis. Experimental intestinal tumors are finding a wide application in the studies of the immunology and kinetics of tumor cell populations, opening up new vistas in the explorations of the nature of tumor growth. Such animal models are being used for the improvement of X-ray and clinical diagnosis of intestinal tumors. The available data show that the pathogenesis of experimental intestinal tumors is a complex of processes, taking place at all levels-from the molecule to the body including multistage metabolism of the carcinogen involved. The morphology, morphogenesis, kinetics, and factors modifying intestinal tumors are discussed in the chapter. The morbidity of malignant tumors of the colon and rectum leads the cancer patient registries in many countries. Progress made in experimental tumor induction has led to the development of transplantable strains of intestinal tumors of mice and rats.