Inoculation of NOD SCID mice with GC1415 cells led
to the formation of tumours in all animals. Palpable
tumours appeared around 3 weeks with a rapid growth
thereafter. Observation period was 8 weeks. No metastases
in the lung, liver, spleen, kidney, lymph nodes were
detected either macro- or microscopically. Engraftment
of GC1415 cells exposed to TMV in vitro for 2 or 24 h
led in the latter case in a slight, but significant, increase
of tumour volume as compared to untreated cells
(Fig. 6a, b). Metastases were also not detected. Angiogenesis
measured quantitatively by haemoglobin content
showed significant increase when GC1415 cells were
pre-exposed to TMV for 24 h, but not 2 h (Fig. 6c). Visualization
of excised Matrigel plugs also showed the same
(Fig. 6d). Histological analysis of the same plugs revealed
that when tumour cells were used alone, examined
areas show either no or few vessels (Fig. 6e, i, ii). When
Matrigel Matrix containing GC1415cells and TMV were
implanted, both vessels and cells were more numerous,
less when tumour cells were pre-exposed to TMV for 2 h
(Fig. 6e, ii) and significantly more pronounced in case of
cells preincubated with TMV for 24 h (Fig. 6e, iv). It was
concluded, that TMV may enhanced tumour growth and
angiogenesis.