CHEMOTHERAPY OF CHILDHOOD RHABDOMYOSARCOMAS GROWING AS XENOGRAFTS IN IMMUNE-DEPRIVED MICE

Abstract

Xenografts derived from the neoplastic tissues of children with rhabdomyosarcoma [HxRh12, HxRh18, RD, LL, CB and HxRh10 cell lines] were used in immune-deprived mice [thymectomy followed by whole-body irradiation] to examine the efficacy of agents active against this disease, and in others that received either limited or no clinical evaluation. Two models were derived; xenografts were established from tumors obtained from either (a) untreated patients or (b) from patients who had become refractory to conventional therapy. Model a identified as being effective each of these clinically used agents: vincristine, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin; mitomycin C and 5-(3,3-dimethyl-1-triazeno)-2-methylimidazole-4-carboxamide also showed activity, as did busulfan in 1 tumor line. Tumors derived from refractory patients were significantly less responsive to all agents examined.