Characteristics of an androgen-estrogen-induced uterine smooth muscle cell tumor of the Syrian hamster.

This paper describes the growth and transplantation of an androgen/estrogen-induced, hormone-responsive uterine leiomyosarcoma of the Syrian hamster and of several autonomous variants derived from it. The tumor progresses toward autonomy rapidly. In serial transplan tation, short periods (100 to 200 days) of androgen/estrogen treatment favor retention of a typical leiomyosar coma architectural pattern; long treatment (250 to 350 days) favors progression to a very atypical pattern. Re moval of hormone support, following establishment of good transplant growth, favors increased malignancy. Both hormone-responsive primary tumor and autono mous, nonresponsive variants are available in a liquid nitrogen tumor bank.