Growth Characteristics of α-Foetoprotein-Secreting Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Athymic (Nude) Mice

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Abstract
The growth characteristics of a human hepatocellular carcinoma, derived from the PLC/PRF/5 cell-line (''Alexander''), transplanted into sub-lethally irradiated athymic (nu/nu) mice were examined. The xenograft re-expresses .alpha.-fetoprotein production although this tumor marker was not detected during cell culture in vitro. There is a positive correlation between serum .alpha.-fetoprotein concentration and tumor mass (r = 0.978), validating the use of this tumor marker to assess growth. In mice with progressively growing xenografts there is a linear correlation between log serum .alpha.-fetoprotein concentration and time, compatible with exponential tumor growth. Growth of the human hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft is rapid, with an .alpha.-fetoprotein doubling time of 6.1 .+-. 2.1 days (.+-. SD) and a mass doubling time of 3.6 .+-. 1.2 days (.+-. SD). The tumor cell birth or production rate, determined by a stathmokinetic (metaphase arrest) technique using vincristine, is 15.7 .+-. 3.8 (95% confidence limits) cells/1000 cells per h. The tumor cell loss factor (49%) is low and may contribute to the rapid growth of this human hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft.