Heterotransplantation of human stomach carcinoma in nude mice.

Thirty-five primary tumors and 14 metastatic lymph nodes from stomach cancer patients were transplanted in nude mice. Successful transplantation was obtained in 16 cases of primary tumors and 5 cases of metastatic lymph nodes. The tumors growing in the nude mouse displayed histological features similar to those of the original human tumors. Eight cases of the successful takes have been maintained by consecutive transplantation. Nine cases have been stored in liquid nitrogen. The transplanted tumors were observed to spread to the distant lymph nodes in 3 cases out of the 17 successive transplants.