JP4 



Cancer Research 



occurred in several portions of the body and varied 

 greatly In size. Though they occasionally presented 

 firm swellings of considerable dimensions, thev never 

 penetrated deeply nor did they infiltrate the sur- 

 rounding tissues. 



A squanM)us cell carcinoma arising in the skin of 

 the right forefoot of a tegu, Tufnnambis teguixin, 

 has been reported by Schwarz (180). The tumor 

 was apfiroxiinately s{)herical, measured 3 cm. in 

 diameter, and had almost destroyed the metacarpal 

 and proximal two phalanges of the fifth digit. The 

 two proximal phalanges of the fourth toe were also 

 extensively injured. The tumor parenchyma con- 

 sisted of neoplastic epithelbl cells that showed sug- 

 gestions of keratinization and "pearl' formation. A 

 vascular connective tissue stroma traversed the 

 masses of tumor cells and even appeared to infiltrate 

 the adjacent muscle. Large areas of necrosis were 

 present throughout the neoplasm. Although the 

 overlying skin was intact, the author believes that 

 the tumor arose locally from the epidermal cells. 

 The tumor was operatively removed, but the animal 

 died a few weeks later; no metastases were found 

 at autopsy. 



In collaboration with Dr. Herbert L. Ratdiffe, 

 pathologist to the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, 

 we have studied a squamous cell carcinoma of the 

 mouth in a black-spotted teguixin, Tufnnambis ni- 

 gropunctatus. When first observed, the tumor, 

 iHiich arose from the left upper gum, had a smooth, 

 lobulated, pink surface and was very firm in con- 

 sistency. It measured 2.5 x 2 x 1 cm., and during 

 the following months increased fairly rapidly in 

 size, doubling its dimensions in a year. At the end 

 of that time a similar tumor appeared in the cor- 

 responding location on the right upp>er gum. In the 

 following 18 months both tumors increased in size 

 and exhibited central areas of necrosb and ulcera- 

 ticHi (Fig. 60). At inter\'als the animal became list- 

 less and refused its food. When this occurred a 

 partial excision of the tumors was performed. Thb 



was followed by a return of the animal's desire for 

 food. 



Several biopsies were taken, the vascularity of the 

 tumor causing considerable bleeding. Attempts at 

 tissue culture of this material were unsuccessful be- 

 cause oral bacteria were a constant contaminant. 

 Transplants were made to the subcutaneous tissue 

 of 23 lizards and the gums of four alligators, but the 

 tumor failed to grow. A similar negative result fol- 

 lowed transplantation to the anterior chamber of 

 the eyes of 9 alligators, 9 green frogs, one bull frog, 

 6 chickens, 12 chicks, and 9 rats. 



After being under observation for 2 years and 8 

 months the animal died from an accidental injury. 

 At autopsy there was local infiltration of the adja- 

 cent tissues by the tumor, but no metastases. His- 

 tologically the neoplasm was composed of squamous 

 epithelial cells supported by delicate connective tis- 

 sue trabeculae. The neoplastic cells adjacent to the 

 trabeculae were radially arranged and columnar in 

 shape. Elsewhere they were polygonal, the baso- 

 philic cytoplasm was abundant, with prominent in- 

 tercellular bridges. Frequently cell aggregates were 

 found that resembled the epithelial "pearls" of 

 human squamous cell carcinoma (Fig. 61). The 

 nuclei were pleomorphic, and showed a marked ten- 

 dency to produce giant forms with one or more 

 prominent nucleoli (Fig. 62). Mitotic figures were 

 numerous. 



SNAKES (SERPENTES) 



The recorded instances of tumors in snakes are 

 very few, but several are of great interest. One such 

 is the adenocarcinoma of the pancreas of Say's pine 

 snake Pituophis sayi, which was reported by Rat- 

 cliffe (167). Grossly the pancreas was diffusely en- 

 larged ; upon histologic examination the parenchyma 

 was found largely replaced by neoplastic epithelial 

 cells. In a later publication Ratcliffe (168) reported 

 that in a series of 136 snakes which had died in 

 captivity, he found in the pancreas of 45 individuab 



Tams 2«: ToMOM or Smaem (SKirBima) 



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