Specific reactivity to serotonin of afferent vessels in human pharyngolaryngeal carcinoma. Methodology and initial results

: This work describes an experimental protocol studying action of Serotonin (5-HT) on vessels feeding human pharyngolaryngeal carcinoma. Right and left superior laryngeal arteries were obtained during total (pharyngo)laryngectomy. As tumor growth is asymmetrical, tumor and opposite side arteries were considered as tumor (T) and control (C) vessels, respectively. (T) and (C) vessels were cut in 3 mm rings and suspended in organ chambers for pharmacological studies. Preliminary results (2 tumors, 7 tumoral rings and 5 control rings) indicate that 5-HT induces specific vasoconstriction in (T) arteries feeding human pharyngolaryngeal carcinoma.