Two transplantable mouse hepatomas associated with an increase of metal-combining beta-globulin (transferrin) in serum.

The growth of two transplantable lines of mouse hepatoma was found to be associated with an increase of the beta and often of the alpha2 globulin as seen in paper electrophoresis. In immunoelectrophoresis the predominant feature was a strongly increased concentration of beta-2-I globulin. Other beta fractions were constantly found change, and some alpha-2 fractions were found changed more occasionally. Hypogammaglobulinemia was invariably seen. Autoradiography showed the beta-2-I fraction of normal and hepatomatous serum to be iron-binding, thus demonstrating the correspondence of this fraction to the metal-combining beta-I globulin (transferrin, siderophilin) of human serum. The microscopic appearances of the hepatomas and of the organs of the hosts are described. In one of the hepatoma lines numerous mast cells were constantly observed in the tumor tissue and in the connective tissue of the hosts. The results are discussed in relation to earlier findings.