U. Otto's research while affiliated with University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf and other places

Tissues of human renal cell carcinoma and of its lymph-node metastases were transplanted between the 1st and the 4th passage on 80 nu/nu mice. Growth of tumor was observed in all cases. Chromosomal analyses proved the tumor origin of the transplants. The primary tumor showed two histological patterns: a granular solid cell carcinoma and sarcomatoid elements. The lymph nodes showed only sarcomatoid tissue of the primary tumor. Light-and electron-microscopic examinations showed that the transplanted tumor contained only the sarcomatoid tissue of the original tumor. The solid carcinomatous tissue was not found and, therefore, probably not transplanted. Flow cytometric investigations of the primary tumor revealed two cell populations with a DNA content of 6 and 10.8 pg. Both cell colonies were also discovered in the transplanted tumors as well. The transplants of the primary tumors grew significantly slower than those of the lymph-node metastases. After an initial inert phase, the transplanted tumors grew more rapidly in the male than in the female animals. Neither hematogenous nor lymphatic metastases were observed. After local excision, recurrent tumor development was found in 80% of the experimental animals.

The effect of vinblastine sulfate on the acceptance and growth of a very malignant, human adenocarcinoma of the kidney (RCCI) on nude mice was investigated. Without any treatment, this tumor has an acceptance rate of 100%. Subcutaneously transplanted pieces of tumor, measuring 3 X 3 X 1 mm, commence to grow rapidly 1 week after transplantation and reach a diameter of approximately 2 cm, 6 weeks thereafter. Tumors with a diameter of approximately 2 cm, treated during 6 weeks with vinblastine (0.6 mg/kg/week), continued to grow during treatment and thereafter. However, when these growing, pretreated tumors were transplanted on new experimental animals, they either were not accepted by them or grew very slowly. When animals with tumor transplants were treated for 6 weeks with vinblastine (same schedule as above), beginning on the 1st day after transplantation, tumor growth was markedly retarded in every case, but only very seldom the tumor was not accepted.

The effect of vinblastine sulfate on the acceptance and growth of a very malignant, human adenocarcinoma of the kidney (RCC1) on nude mice was investigated. Without any treatment, this tumor has an acceptance rate of 100%. Subcutaneously transplanted pieces of tumor, measuring 3 × 3 × 1 mm, commence to grow rapidly 1 week after transplantation and reach a diameter of approximately 2 cm, 6 weeks thereafter. Tumors with a diameter of approximately 2 cm, treated during 6 weeks with vinblastine (0.6 mg/kg/week), continued to grow during treatment and thereafter. However, when these growing, pretreated tumors were transplanted on new experimental animals, they either were not accepted by them or grew very slowly. When animals with tumor transplants were treated for 6 weeks with vinblastine (same schedule as above), beginning on the 1 st day after transplantation, tumor growth was markedly retarded in every case, but only very seldom the tumor was not accepted.

Tissues of human renal cell carcinoma and of its lymph-node metastases were transplanted between the 1st and the 4th passage on 80 nu/nu mice. Growth of tumor was observed in all cases. Chromosomal analyses proved the tumor origin of the transplants. The primary tumor showed two histological patterns: a granular solid cell carcinoma and sarcomatoid elements. The lymph nodes showed only sarcomatoid tissue of the primary tumor. Light-and electron-microscopic examinations showed that the transplanted tumor contained only the sarcomatoid tissue of the original tumor. The solid carcinomatous tissue was not found and, therefore, probably not transplanted. Flow cytometric investigations of the primary tumor revealed two cell populations with a DNA content of 6 and 10.8 pg. Both cell colonies were also discovered in the transplanted tumors as well. The transplants of the primary tumors grew significantly slower than those of the lymph-node metastases. After an initial inert phase, the transplanted tumors grew more rapidly in the male than in the female animals. Neither hematogenous nor lymphatic metastases were observed. After local excision, recurrent tumor development was found in 80% of the experimental animals.