[Transplantation of malignant ovarian tumors into athymic nu/nu mice]

Routinely performed xenotransplantations of 216 different malignant ovarian tumors on thymusaplastic nu/nu mice (NMRI) are reported. Take-off rate defined as proof of histologically vital cells and outer measurable growth was 76 percent. However, a second or further animal passages were possible only in almost 40 percent. About 20 percent of malignant ovarian tumors could be serilly xenotransplanted. The influence of grade of histological differentiation, of origin of tumor tissue (primary, metastasis), and of tissue's steroid receptor content on the growth of ovarian xenotransplants could be demonstrated. The human origin of the xenotransplants - even in later animal passages - could be determined in all cases by isoenzyme analysis. However, the growing rate of mitoses indicates a change of cell proliferation of the xenotransplants. Because of that the nude mice model seems not be appropriate as an individual 'predictive test', but it is excellent as a preclinical prediction for the effect of newly developed cytostatics or the relevance of different therapeutical approaches.