Levels of mammary tumor virus in hormone-dependent and -independent mouse mammary tumor cells.

Levels of mammary tumor virus particles (types A and B) and levels of the virus antigen were assayed in hormone-dependent and -independent mammary tumors of GR mice. Various transplant generations of seven separate tumor lines were investigated. The results indicated that the tumors consisted of different cell clones, each of which exhibited a separate progressive expression and subsequent loss of the mammary tumor virus. When the tumors were transplanted, levels of B particles first declined in the hormone-dependent cells, but in later transplant generations, the B particle content of the autonomous cells also dropped. In some tumor lines, this was accompanied by a decrease in viral antigens and/or A particles, but in other lines these concentrations remained high. One tumor line (line V) that remained hormone-dependent throughout nine transplantations was practically devoid of B particles but contained high levels of A particles and mammary tumor antigen.