Comparative functional histopathology of human breast carcinoma xenografts.

A series of xenografts of human breast carcinomas has been established and serially transplanted in immune-suppressed mice. Certain structural and functional features of the original human tumours, including carcinoembryonic antigen and epithelial membrane antigen, continue to be expressed by the resulting xenografts. Stromal responses such as elastosis and oestrogen-receptor activity were lost by the xenografts. No metastases were detected in tumour-bearing mice. This study suggests that xenografts may have some value in experimental pathology as one type of model of human breast carcinoma.