Radiation therapy for the human testicular tumor transplantable to nude mice

Human AFP-producing testicular tumor strain was transplanted into nude mice (JTG-1). Radiation therapy was given, and the effect was examined. Three weeks after subcutaneous transplantation of the tumor to the right femur of the animals a single local radiation was performed by means of a linear accelerator electron beam (8 MeV). With radiation doses of 30, 35 and 40 Gy, the radiation effect was examined in terms of the changes in tumor-growth curve, serum AFP value and tumor histology. For 30 and 35 Gy radiation groups, an obvious tumoristatic effect was observed on the tumor-growth curve as compared with the control group but with a tendency to regrowth 2 weeks after radiation. For the 40 Gy radiation group, macroscopic disappearance of the tumor, decreases in serum AFP value and histological findings in 3 of 5 mice confirmed the antitumor effect of the radiation therapy, which, however, was quasilethal. The results of the present study confirmed that radiation above 40 Gy was effective in the treatment of metastatic foci of non-seminomatous testicular tumor, and suggesting that radiation therapy was a potent therapeutic means in the multi-disciplinary therapy. (author)