Applications of the xenograft as a model of invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

We have established a series of serially-transplantable xenografts of human bladder cancer which encompass the broad range of histological subtypes of this disease. Substantial heterogeneity has been demonstrated with respect to the ultrastructural and functional characteristics of these lines. We have used this model to explore the histogenesis of the different subtypes of bladder cancer as well as for preliminary studies of novel anti-cancer drugs for this disease. Future studies will characterise further the differences between superficial and invasive tumours and may reveal predictors of their natural history and metastatic potential.