Heterotransplantation of ovarian serous adenocarcinoma with functioning stroma to nude mice. Disappearance of functioning stroma in transplanted tumor.

Serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary with estrogen and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) production was serially heterotransplanted into nude mice. The original tumor presented marked luteinization of stromal cells with elevated urine levels of estrogen before the operation. Estrogen levels reduced to the normal level shortly after the operation. Histologic features of the original tumor were basically retained in the transplanted tumor, but no luteinization of stromal cells was observed and serum estrogen levels in nude mice were elevated. Immunohistochemically, AFP was found to be positive in some tumor cells of transplanted tumor, but serum AFP levels were not elevated.