Successful isolation, cultivation and partial characterization of naturally occurring ovine squamous cell carcinoma.

Seventeen epithelial cell lines have been successfully established from naturally occurring ovine squamous cell carcinomata. Culture establishment was most successful when tumor tissue was directly explanted rather than treated enzymatically. Success in establishing cultures also appeared to be related to the site on the body from which the tumor biopsy was taken, with tumors derived from the nose being most readily cultured. Several of the cell lines were successfully transplanted to nude mice where the growth patterns observed in the original host, i.e. expansive or invasive, were maintained. All cell lines assumed one of two distinct morphological types; however, no association could be seen between morphology and pattern of in vivo growth.