# MACROMOLECULAR TRANSPORT IN NEOPLASTIC CAPILLARY BEDS

> **NIH NIH R01** · CARNEGIE-MELLON UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $108,907

## Abstract

The specific aim of this study is to quantify alterations in microvascular
permeability of normal and neoplastic tissue by direct in vivo measurement
of the extravasation of fluorescein-tagged dextran (molecular weight =
150,000) following local or systemic administration of vasoactive agents.
These agents include amines (prostaglandins and leukotrienes), polypeptides
(angiotensin, bradykinin, and vasopressin), catecholamines (epinephrine and
norepinephrine) and glucose.  Dose-response curves will be constructed for
every agent.

Experimental methods will involve growing normal (mature granulation) and
neoplastic VX2 carcinoma) tissues in a transparent rabbit ear chamber
prepared routinely in our laboratory.  Once the tissue prepration is
mature, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-tagged dextran molecule
(molecular weight of 150,000) will be injected into the animal's
circulation.  Fifteen minutes later, a vasoactive agent will be
administered locally or systemically.  Resulting extravasation of
FITC-dextran will be monitored and video recorded for up to three hours
using an intravital fluorescene microscopy technique developed and tested
in our laboratory.  Stemic blood pressure of animals will be monitored in
each experiment.  In a limited number of experiments, microvascular
pressure will be measured by opening the chamber carefully and inserting
micropipette in desired blood vessels.  The spatial and temporal
concentration data will be used to calculate the interstitial diffusion
coefficient and effective microvascular permeability using previously
developed mathematical models.

Theoretical work will involve development of mathematical models to
quantify changes in microvascular transport and endothelial damages.
Single capillary models will be extended to multiple capillaries, wherein
the morphological and transport chracteristics of each capillary can be
different.

It is hoped that the results of this investigation using vasoactive agents
as a probe will increase our fundamental understanding of the structural
and functional differences between normal and neoplastic microcirculation
and will aid in improving the current methods of cancer detection and
treatment.  (4)

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3174533
- **Project number:** 5R01CA036902-03
- **Recipient organization:** CARNEGIE-MELLON UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** U3NKNFLNQ613
- **Principal Investigator:** Rakesh K. Jain
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $108,907
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1984-12-01 → 1987-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3174533

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3174533, MACROMOLECULAR TRANSPORT IN NEOPLASTIC CAPILLARY BEDS (5R01CA036902-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3174533. Licensed CC0.

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