Summary
Invasive cervical and/or vaginal carcinoma was induced in 100 per cent of C3H mice within a period of 4½–5 months by applying 3,4-benzpyrene to the cervix through an otic speculum. The development of carcinoma may be evaluated accurately by a team of co-workers without taking measurements and without labeling individual exfoliated cells. By scoring cytologic criteria of malignancy in weekly vaginal smears, cytologic patterns are obtained which permit diagnosis of the presence of carcinoma, distinguish between early and advanced stages of malignant disease, but do not determine presence or absence of invasion. Smears from mice with early carcinoma were characterized by persistent presence of at least five of the factors, including usually more than one nuclear abnormality. As the neoplastic process extended, both the quantitative and qualitative scoring became higher. In terminal stages there was decreased exfoliation accompanied by marked infection and necrosis. This cytologic method of evaluation of a neoplastic process may also be used for determining the effect of substances being tested for interference with carcinogenesis.
This investigation was supported (in part) by a research grant, #C-2540 (C), from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Public Health Service. Also some data are based upon research investigation undertaken during the tenure of a Damon Runyon Memorial Fund grant.
RSS Feeds
