Renal cell carcinoma--xenotransplantation into immuno-suppressed mice

21 human renal cell carcinomas (RCC) were xenotransplanted into artificially immunosuppressed mice. 4 tumors grew successfully retaining some characteristics of the primary tumors (according to morphology and karyotype analysis), but losing metastatic capacity. One of the serially transplantable tumors (HT 40) with hyperdiploid cellular DNA content and estrogen receptor positivity failed to respond to the single maximally tolerated dose of several cytotoxic agents.