| 摘要 |
<p>The invention provides a method of generating and isolating cells of a defined tumour phenotype being invasive and angiogenesis-independent (phenotype I), from a tumour sample, said method comprising the steps of culturing tumour cells of said tumour sample for up to nine days in order to establish multicellular spheroids, and implanting said multicellular spheroids thus obtained into an immunodeficient animal. It further provides methods for generating and isolating tumour cells of phenotype II (invasive and angiogenesis independent) which involves the generation of cells of phenotype I and serial.passaging of the cells in animals. Furthermore, by modifying the amount of time the spheroids are cultured prior to implantation into an animal, cells of phenotype III (non-invasive, angiogenesis dependent) may be generated and isolated. The present invention further provides animal models of all phenotype tumours, isolated tumour cells of the defined phenotypes and uses thereof.</p> |
