UTILIZATION OF A HUMAN-TUMOR CLONING SYSTEM TO MONITOR FOR MARROW INVOLVEMENT WITH SMALL CELL-CARCINOMA OF THE LUNG

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (3) , 1015-1020
Abstract
The sensitivities of 2 methodologies for determining bone marrow involvement by small cell lung cancer were compared. These methodologies included histological examination of marrow aspirations and biopsies vs. growth of tumor colonies in soft agar. There were 4 instances in which histological study of the marrow aspirate (and biopsy) revealed metastatic small cell lung cancer. All 4 specimens formed colonies in soft agar. Of 37 histologically negative aspirations and biopsies, 34 showed no growth in the soft agar system. Three histologically negative specimens formed colonies in soft agar. The cells growing in these colonies were documented to be small cell lung cancer by histology and growth in nude mice. Small cell lung cancer metastatic to bone marrow will form colonies in soft agar. Additional study is needed to determine if the soft agar system is more sensitive than routine histology in detecting small cell lung cancer metastatic to bone marrow.

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