Growth of a methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma in mice with diabetes mellitus

Growth of a methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma was retarded in diabetic mice. Tumors maintained in diabetic mice grow faster after each subsequent transplantation into diabetic mice. The observed proliferation enhancement of fibrosarcoma maintained in diabetic mice is caused by insulin synthesis, apparently by the tumor cells themselves. Hypoglycemia accompanied intramuscular growth of fibrosarcoma. In diabetic hosts, the tumor decreased the blood glucose level almost to the level seen in non-diabetic mice.