Human cervical carcinoma xenograft models for studies of the physiological microenvironment of tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To establish and characterize experimental tumor models of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. METHODS: Permanent cell lines (CK-160 and TS-415) were established from pelvic lymph node metastases of two cervical carcinoma patients. Xenografted tumors were initiated by inoculating 5 x 10(5) cells into the gastrocnemius muscle of BALB/c nu/nu mice. The tumors were characterized with respect to histological appearance, fraction of necrotic tissue (NF), pimonidazole hypoxic fraction (HF(Pim)), interstitial fluid pressure (IFP), extracellular pH (pH(e)), metastatic propensity, and radiation sensitivity. RESULTS: The xenografted tumors reflected the donor patients' tumors in histological appearance, metastatic propensity, and radiation sensitivity and showed significant intertumor heterogeneity in growth rate, NF, HF(Pim), IFP, and pH(e). CONCLUSIONS: CK-160 and TS-415 xenografts possess properties making them relevant models for studies of the physiological microenvironment of cervical carcinoma and its influence on metastatic dissemination and response to treatment.