Failure of low molecular weight dextrans to alter the frequency of lung metastasis. Report on the V2 carcinoma of the rabbit

Three fractions of low molecular weight dextran (10,000, 40,000 and 70,000) were administered intravenously to Laboratory Lop rabbits before or after intravenous inoculation of ascitic V2 carcinoma cells. The frequency of pulmonary metastases was unaltered by dextran treatment. No extrapulmonary tumor was found in any instance. These findings are discussed in relation to the studies of other investigators and the need for additional experiments employing a variety of tumors and hosts is emphasized.