The model of experimental tumors of the nervous system has greatly con
tributed to our understanding of growth and management of intracranial
tumors, but has been somewhat neglected in the last years, because a
wealth of new data concerning oncogenic action came from viral oncogen
esis. These new issues led to a much better insight into human tumor i
nduction and promotion. Yet one example of the impact of oncogenic tra
nsformation stems from the ''neurooncogenic'' model: the discovery of
the neu oncogene and its product as a putative differentiation recepto
r in the cell membrane of experimental Schwann cell derived tumors. In
the light of this unique finding the history of the ''neurooncogenic'
' model and the morphological and ''clinical'' result of tumors produc
ed within the model are reviewed. There is a large open field for futu
re investigation both in basic and applied science.