Experimental chemotherapy of carcinoma of the human stomach and colon serially transplanted in nude mice.

Human gastric and colon carcinomas serially transplantable in nude mice, designated as St-4, St-15, and Co-3, were used for chemotherapeutic experiments. All tumors showed a 100% take rate and stable growth. Mitomycin-C (MMC), 3 mg/kg body weight, given intraperitoneally 4 times once weekly, showed some inhibiting effect on Co-3, St-15, and St-4 in that order. N1-(2'-Tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil (FT-207), 90 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally daily for 4 weeks, suppressed the growth of Co-3 and St-15 slightly but with statistical significance, and had no effect on St-4. Co-3, a tumor with more rapid growth and richer vascular supply, was suppressed more by MMC and FT-207. These three transplantable tumors may be useful, not only in evaluating chemotherapeutic agents for use against human gastrointestinal carcinomas, but also for screening of new antitumor agents.