Experimental models for the study of prostatic adenocarcinoma

The Dunning R3327H transplantable rat tumor is a well differentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma. Its biologic properties have been characterized, and it appears that this animal model is well suited for studying prostatic cancer. The tumor responds to castration therapy, which is subsequently followed by a relapse to hormone insensitivity. Cell kinetic studies indicate that 70 to 90% of the total tumor cells are hormonally sensitive, and a subpopulation of 8 to 30% are hormone insensitive. The therapeutic relapse to androgen deprivation represents the continued growth of the cell clone, which was hormone insensitive. It appears that this animal tumor mimics the relapse phenomenon observed in the hormonal control of human prostatic cancer.