The Primary Implantation of Human Tumours to the Hamster Cheek Pouch

The hamster cheek pouch is an immunologically privileged site. The present study is of simple implantation of human tumours direct from operative specimen to cheek pouch, in particular to determine whether tumour type influences the rate of successful implant. All implants were studied 10 or 20 days later. The use of cortisone significantly improved the number of implants growing. Carcinomas of the cervix were found to show growth in 55% of implants, in animals conditioned with cortisone. Growth from tumours of the uterine body, or from colorectal carcinomas, occurred in 25-30% of implants. Breast cancer gave poor results.