Transplantation of human renal cell carcinoma into NMRI nu/nu mice. I. Reliability of an experimental tumor model.

Human renal cell carcinomas of 20 consecutive patients were obtained by radical nephrectomy and were transplanted into nu/nu mice (NMRI). All tumors that were not pretreated were accepted without selection and were identical with the original tumor in morphology and chromosomal modes and usually in DNA content per cell. The growth rate of these tumors after transplantation correlated well with the clinical course of the corresponding patients and was strongly influenced by pretreatment with radiation therapy. This proves the reliability of such an experimental tumor model to study adjuvant therapy in renal cell carcinoma.