Primary
bladder tumors induced in Fischer 344 inbred rats by N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]
formamide were transplanted in syngeneic rats by the intravesical, s.c., i.v., and orthotopic routes. Attempts were made to establish
bladder cancer cell lines in vitro. No success was achieved in
transplantation by either the s.c., i.v., or intravesical routes when primary
tumor cells were transplanted as cell
suspensions. Cell
suspensions of primary
tumors also failed to grow in culture. However, orthotopic implantation into the bladder submucosa gave 45% success.
Tumor fragments obtained from either the primary
tumor or its lung
metastases resulted in 10.6 and 36%
tumor takes, respectively, when implanted s.c. However, after one orthotopic passage in the bladder submucosa, the
tumor cells injected as cell
suspension grew s.c. in 14% and orthotopically in 79% of the animals.
Tumor fragments obtained from orthotopic
tumors and implanted s.c. resulted in 15%
tumor takes. After the second orthotopic passage,
tumor cells could be grown in cultures and orthotopically in 100% of animals. The technique of orthotopic implantation as well as the usefulness of this
tumor model for
bladder cancer studies are described.