The applications of xenografts in the study of human germ cell tumours

Human germ cell tumours have been established as transplantable xenografts in immune suppressed and congenitally athymic animals. This review summarises the current and potential uses of this animal model in the study of these tumours, including the generation of 'human' tumour material for histological, immunocytochemical and ultrastructural analysis, for radio- and chemosensitivity testing, and for the development of new techniques of tumour imaging.