# MACROMOLECULAR TRANSPORT IN NEOPLASTIC CAPILLARY BEDS

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 1992 · $212,308

## Abstract

The long-term objective of this research is to quantify transport
in tumor microcirulation.  The specific anim of this renewal
application are to investigate the detailed fluid flow profile
within the interstitial space of living tissues and to determine
the contribution of convective transport to the overall transport
of macromolecules in norman and cancerous tissues.

The expermental phase of this research will involve the
determination of the diffusion coefficient, D, and the convective
velocity field, v, for the transport of various macromoles in
normal (mature granulation) as well as neoplastic (VX2 carcinoma)
tissues in the rabbit ear chamber preparation.  The measured
transport characteristics will be correlated to the properties of
the macromolecule (size, charge, configuration) and the tissue
(norman versus tumor).  Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching
(FRAP) will be used to discriminate between convection and
diffusion.  This technique involves laser irradiation of a select
region of the fluorescence-bathed interstitium to create a well-
defined area of low fluorescence intensity.  The fluorophore
concentration within this bleached region is monitored as a
funciton of space and time, and is analyzed to determine the
intersitial convective velocity and the interstitial diffusion
coefficient.  Investigation into the heterogeneity of the
convective velocity will also provide information on the detailed
flow profile within the intersitial space tissues.

The theoretical phase of the research will involve mathematical
nodeling of the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching for
arbitrary intersitial flow fields to determine accurately a
convective velocity profile and a diffusion coefficient frrom
analysis of the obtained data.  The fluid flow in the interstitum
will also be modeled in order to investigate the Starling mechanism
of fluid exhange between a microvessel and the surrounding
interstitial space.  The significant tissue characteristics
governing the velocity profile will be determined.  The fiver-
matrix model for intersitial transport will be improved,
incorporating convection and viscous/hydrodynamic hindrance in the
analysis, leading to a more accurate description of transport in
vivo.

The proposed investigation will provide the first measure of the
magnitude and direction of convective velocity in the interstitium.
The results obtained will be of value to physiologists in
developing a better understanding of Starling's hypothesis of
transcapillary exchange, and in characterizing interstitial
transport in tissues; and to cancer researchers and oncologist in
improving current methods of cancer detection and treatment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3174537
- **Project number:** 5R01CA036902-09
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FLJ7DQKLL226
- **Principal Investigator:** Rakesh K. Jain
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $212,308
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1984-12-01 → 1992-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3174537

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3174537, MACROMOLECULAR TRANSPORT IN NEOPLASTIC CAPILLARY BEDS (5R01CA036902-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3174537. Licensed CC0.

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