[Comparative studies of carcinomas of the human oral mucosa and xenografts in the nude mouse with the aid of computer-supported microscope image analysis].

The complete preservation of the original characteristics of donor tumors after xenografting into nude mice is more and more doubtful. With the aid of traditional biological methods and computer-assisted microscope image analysis the original human tumor tissues, including primary and recurrent tumors and metastases, are compared with nude mouse-grown xenografts. Squamous cell carcinomas of the oral mucosa served as original tumor tissues. Tumor takes were observed in 7 out of 12 cases. 5 transplantable lines could be established. Primaries, recurrent tumors and lymph node metastases are suitable for transplantations into nude mice and yield a comparable success rate. With one exception complete conformity between the original human tumor tissues and nude mouse-grown tumors could be found regarding the degree of differentiation and keratinizing tendency. As to the growth pattern of xenografts characterized by continuous shortening of growth periods, certain variations in the biological properties due to selection processes cannot be excluded. The results of microscope image analysis based on 35 different parameters suggest important differences within the developmental tendency of human tumor tissues and nude mouse-grown xenografts.