"Nude" mice are specially bred mice that are used in cancer research.  The strain has a compromised immune (T-cell) system which makes them a rapid model for tumor growth, allowing a multi-phase study to be accomplished more quickly.  I would assume that the corn oil was added to the standardized diet in order to encourage the mice to eat more calories, also a stimulus to tumor growth.
 
gale



----- Original Message ----
From: Ashley Moran <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 8:08:34 PM
Subject: Re: walnuts and breast cancer

On Sep 17, 2008, at 4:42 pm, Kathryn Rosenthal wrote:

> Tumor cells were injected into nude mice that were consuming an  
> AIN-76A diet slightly modified to contain 10% corn oil. After the  
> tumors reached 3 to 5 mm diameter, the diet of one group of mice was  
> changed to include ground walnuts, equivalent to 56 g (2 oz) per day  
> in humans.

Surely the more interesting bit is that they fed corn oil to encourage  
cancer (if I understood)?  Surely the real solution is obvious...?

Ashley