Background/aim

Recently, a novel circulatory system, the primo vascular system (PVS), was found to be a potent metastatic route of cancer cells. The aim of the current work is to demonstrate that cancer cells injected into the testis migrate through the primo vessel (PV).

Materials and methods

NCI-H460 cells labeled with fluorescent nanoparticles (FNP) or green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene transfection were injected into testicular parenchyma in 24 rats. After 24 hours of injection, the abdominal cavity was investigated via a stereomicroscope, to detect the PVS, and the samples were analyzed histologically with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and hematoxylin and eosin.

Results

Injected cancer cells were detected inside the PVS distributed on the abdominal organs. Some were detected inside intestinal parenchyma into which the attached primo vessels (PVs) entered.

Conclusion

The results supported the fact that the PVS may be a novel migration path of cancer cells, in addition to the lymphatic and hematogenous routes.