Growth of human breast carcinomas in nude mice and subsequent establishment in tissue culture.

Thirty-two malignant human breast tumors were implanted s.c. in female nude mice. Seven tumors survived for two passages, and four were established into permanent transplantable tumor lines. The transplantable tumors have retained the histopathology of the original tumor throughout passaging in the nude mice. In addition, two of the transplantable tumors have low concentrations of estrogen receptor. Tissue culture of the original tumor specimens upon receipt resulted in epithelial outgrowth in 15 of 32 primary cultures. However, no permanent cell lines were established. Attempts to culture 23 tumors frozen with dimethyl sulfoxide upon receipt were unsuccessful. In contrast, establishment of cell strains was successful with tumor specimens cultured following passage in the nude mice; three cell strains were initiated from two of the transplantable tumors.