Metastasis of a cultured human bladder carcinoma cell line transplanted into nude athymic mice

Earlier reports concerning metastasis from human tumors transplanted to nude mice indicate that the metastatic potential is correlated with invasive subcutaneous growth. It also seems that cultured cell lines are more prone to metastasis than heterotransplanted solid tumors. A malignant human uroepithelial tumor, grown in culture since 1970, was injected subcutaneously to six nude mice. All animals developed locally invasive tumor nodules. Postmortem examination revealed metastatic growth in the pancreas, in the mesenteric fat tissue, in the stomach wall and intestines and in the lymphatic vessels of mesentery. The findings are well in accordance with earlier reports.