Abstract
The presence of cellular aggregates in cell suspensions derived from human solid tumours often complicates subsequent evaluation of colony formation in primary soft agar cultures (Agrez et al., 1982b). In the present study, performance of a conventional colony formation assay was observed to lack sufficient sensitivity to identify growth and active chemotherapeutic agents in the majority of specimen cultures. Modification of conventional methodologies to include filtration of cell suspensions, use of "proliferation control" and "cytotoxicity control" cultures as well as vital staining were found to be essential for the valid assessment of primary soft agar cultures in our laboratory. In addition, application of drugs to culture surface in place of culture incorporation appeared to facilitate culture performance and drug sensitivity testing.
Highlights
Interest in the laboratory culture and drug sensitivity testing of human solid tumours has been prompted by a serious need to improve methods of selecting chemotherapy for patients with advanced malignant disease
During an initial 5-month interval 825 consecutive evaluable malignant human tumour specimens representing a wide variety of histologic types were placed in primary soft agar culture according to conventional methodology
A previous investigation of cultures from continuous human tumour cell lines and a limited number of primary human tumour cultures demonstrated that the use of a metabolizable vital dye, INT, in conjunction with soft agar colony formation assays permitted discrimination between viable and non-viable groups of cells (Alley et al, 1982)
Summary
Human solid tumour specimens and aliquots of malignant effusions were obtained through the Pathology Laboratory at St. Marys Hospital and the Surgical Pathology Service at Rochester Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. A total of 541 consecutive evaluable specimens were assayed using modified techniques of culture and analysis. Specimens were obtained from a wide variety of sources: colon (127), lung (84), breast (51), head and neck (47), kidney (39), ovary (28), uterus (26), melanoma (19), sarcoma (15), liver (11), prostate (9), brain (8), bladder (7), and other tissues (70)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
