Transplantation of human renal cell carcinoma into NMRI nu/nu mice. II. Evaluation of response to vinblastine sulfate monotherapy.

Four different renal cell carcinomas, successfully transplanted into nude mice, were treated with different dosages of vinblastine sulfate. Decrease of tumor growth was observed in 3 out of 4 of the tumors; the response was dose-dependent. The histologic appearance, cytologic grading, proliferation rate (judged by flow cytometry), and growth characteristics in the nude mouse model were correlated with the response to vinblastine therapy. Good response was seen in tumors with low cellular differentiation, progressive tumor growth, and high proliferation rate.