COMPARISON OF CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN SMALL CELL CARCINOMA OF THE LUNG IN PATIENTS, IN VITRO AND TRANSPLANTED INTO NUDE MICE

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Abstract
Specimens from 24 patients with metastatic small cell carcinoma of the lung were explanted in vitro as well as transplanted directly into nude mice. A method to obtain fibroblast-free cultures is described. This method resulted in cell lines which could be grown for more than one year in 79% of the cases. Fifty-four % of the tumors could be established as serially transplantable tumors in nude mice. The tumors were characterized by histology, electron microscopy, DNA index, and cell cycle distribution. The in vitro cell lines were furthermore characterized by the plating efficiency and by doubling time. The macroscopic growth of the heterotransplanted tumors was ascribed to a transformed Gompertz function. The tumor cells preserved their light microscopic constitution of small cell carcinoma of the lung in the model systems. The heterogeneity of the original tumors was reflected in vitro and in nude mice and the model systems thus allows an expression of the inherent heterogeneity and instability. The panel of transplantable tumors and the in vitro cell lines offer the study of biology inclusive of tumor progression of SCCL.