Growth characteristics of human malignant tumours and cell lines in serial passages in nude mice.

Two osteosarcoma cell lines, one fibrosarcoma and one undifferentiated mesenchymal tumour obtained at operation, all of human origin, were transplanted in serial passages in athymic nude mice. The growth rate was analysed and the morphologic appearance compared both with the original tumours and after each passage. All tumours retained their morphologic characteristics during the transplantation and passaging in the nude mice with only minor alterations in structure. The growth rates of the tumours showed great variability even in the same passage of each tumour, although the growth rates became somewhat more regular and predictable after some passages.