Experimental Factors Influencing Hepatic Metastases. XII. Effect of Increased Arterial Blood Flow. ∗

Summary and Conclusions

Previous studies demonstrated that a reduction in arterial blood supply to the liver resulted in an augmentation of experimentally induced hepatic metastases. It was concluded that the alteration of the “soil,” i.e., liver damage, subsequent to alteration of hepatic blood and oxygen supply was responsible. From the reported experiments it was demonstrated that following an increase in arterial blood supply to the liver via arterialization of that organ a similar increase in “take”and growth of tumor occurs which likewise may be related to hepatic trauma. From these observations it would seem unlikely that the susceptibility of the liver to metastases, when compared with other organs, might be due, as has been proposed, to its relatively poor oxygen supply.