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The nude mouse as anin vivo model for human breast cancer invasion and metastasis

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Human breast cancer xenografts only rarely invade and metastasize in nude mice, and have therefore only had limited use as a model for studying mechanisms involved in breast cancer spreading. However, recent reports describe differences not only between various cell lines but also between strains of immune-deficient mice in terms of providing a model for studies of the invasive and metastatic capability of human breast cancer xenografts. Genetic labelling of human cancer cells with the lacZ gene is described as a specific and highly sensitive method for identification of micrometastases in such a model.

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Brünner, N., Boysen, B., Rømer, J. et al. The nude mouse as anin vivo model for human breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Breast Cancer Res Tr 24, 257–264 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01833265

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