Cytopathogenic effects of ethylenephosphoramides upon the Walker 256 rat tumor.

In the course of studies dealing with metabolic effects of ethylenephosphoramide chemotherapy upon host and tumor tissues (2, 3, 14, 15), certain cytopathogenic effects were noted in sections of treated Walker 256 rat tumors. The changes con sisted of the appearance of large, polymorphic giant cells with bizarre nuclear and cytoplasmic configurations and unusual staining properties. Changes similar to these have been noted in hu man, experimental animal, and plant tissues as a result of cell injury by a variety of physical and chemical agents, including viruses and x-ray ir radiation (6-8,11,13,16). To our knowledge, how ever, such changes have not been reported, hereto fore, as an effect of ethylenephosphoramide chem otherapy. Because the study of these changes may contribute toward an understanding of mecha nisms of cell injury, the present preliminary report is made.