MULTICELLULAR TUMOR SPHEROIDS OF HUMAN-COLON CARCINOMA ORIGIN - KINETIC-ANALYSIS OF INFILTRATION AND INSITU DESTRUCTION IN A XENOGENEIC (MURINE) HOST

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 49  (4) , 207-219
Abstract
The relationship between destruction and concomitant host cell infiltration of human tumor xenografts was quantitatively investigated by using the multicellular tumor spheroid model. Multicellular tumor spheroids of HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells were grown in vitro and subsequently implanted in the peritoneal cavity of BALB/c mice. At various times thereafter, spheroids were recovered and dissociated and their viability was quantitatively assessed by using a clonogenic assay. Little damage to spheroids was observed during the initial 4 days after implantation but essentially complete destruction (> 99% reduction in clonogenic tumor cells) occurred between days 4-7. In parallel studies, host cell infiltration was assessed by light microscopy and EM in situ on sections and on dissociated suspensions of spheroid cells. The data demonstrate the value of using a model system in which functional and morphological techniques can be combined in a quantitative assessment of the relationship between host cell infiltration and graft destruction in situ.