Direct implantation and serial transplantation of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia in hamsters, SB-2.

Human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells have been estab lished as a serially transplantable lymphosarcoma in newborn Syrian hamsters by the direct inoculation of cells from the peripheral blood of a boy in the terminal stages of lympho sarcoma. The experimental neoplasm, currently in its 70th serial passage, is metastatic and occasionally progresses to frank leukemia. In later passages, it has become transplanta ble in the newborn hamster every 10-12 days. Immunofluorescence evidence indicates that it is still composed of human cells after continued passage in the experimental host. Cytogenetic examination shows the cells to be of male human karyotype. Electron-microscopic examination reveals them to be free of morphologically recognizable virus.