The influence of antiserotonin treatment with ketanserin on the pulmonary lodgement of circulating tumour cells in normal and traumatized rats.

As shown in earlier studies, the lodgement of circulating tumour cells in the lungs is reduced by thrombocytopenia in both normal and traumatized rats. Other experiments have shown that thrombocytopenia and antiserotonin treatment with ketanserin, which has a selective effect on 5-HT2 receptors, decrease the hepatic lodgement of intraportally injected tumour cells. The present studies show that treatment with ketanserin also reduces the lodgement of i.v.-injected tumour cells in the lungs in both normal and traumatized rats.