Optimization of a metastasizing human gastric cancer model in nude mice.

Our purpose was to optimize the surgical orthotopic implantation (SOI) technique to create a reproducible gastric cancer model in nude mice with stable tumor growth and metastasizing course. We performed xenotransplantation of primary human tumor specimens from patients with gastric cancer (series 1) and orthotopic transplantation of tumor specimens originating from the gastric cancer cell line 23132/87 (series 2). All specimens were transplanted using microsurgical techniques.