Human neuroblastoma serially transplanted in nude mice and metastases.

A human neuroblastoma from a female patient was directly transplanted into nude mice and serial transplantation was established. Histology of the transplanted tumor was almost the same as that of the patient. During serial transplantation, a high frequency of metastasis to distant organs such as ovaries, lymph node and cerebrum was observed, especially in the ovaries where the metastatic rate reached to 66%. Regarding the distribution of organs involved, there is close similarity between that in the patient with neuroblastoma and tumor-bearing mice. This transplantable human neuroblastoma provided a unique research tool for studies on its morphological and biological nature, including metastasis.