Thirty-four Lines of Six Human Tumor Categories Established in Nude Mice23

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Abstract
Inoculation into Swiss nude mice of 246 human tumors sc resulted in tumor growth in 60 cases (24.4%). The percentages of tumors that grew in primary transplants varied significantly among the 6 tumor categories from 47.1% for lung tumors to 8.6% for breast tumors and were higher for metastases (34.4%) and recurrent tumors (42.9%) than for tumors from primary sites (19.0%). Thirty-four human tumor lines were established. Fifteen lines originated from lung tumors, 7 from breast tumors, 5 from bone tumors, 3 from head and neck tumors, 3 from soft-tissue sarcomas, and 1 from a female genital tumor. Metastases established lines in 23.4% of all attempts and from 72.7% of the tumors growing in primary transplant. Lines were established less frequently from primary tumors (8.3 and 43.8%). These lines have been carried up to passage 19. The primary transplant time (wk to geometric mean diameter of 10 mm) averaged 11.0 for tumors from which lines were established. Tumors derived from primary sites showed the longest time in primary transplant, 11.7 weeks, versus 11.0 weeks for metastases and 7.4 weeks for recurrent tumors. Average periods between passages varied from 1.6 to 22.6 weeks for individual lines. Average passage times were similar for lines derived from primary sites, metastases, and recurrent tumors (5.0, 6.9, and 5.1 wk, respectively). These times were significantly shorter than were primary transplant times, and a linear relationship established that passage times could be predicted when primary transplant time was known. The success in establishing lines was not dependent on the degree of differentiation of nude mouse-grown tumors. Less differentiated tumors grew more rapidly in primary transplant and passage. The growth analysis indicated that many of the tumors grew at rates sufficient to obtain enough tissue for experimental studies and to provide material for clinical screening of individual cases within reasonable times.