CLONOGENIC-ASSAY FOR WILMS TUMOR - IMPROVED TECHNIQUE FOR OBTAINING SINGLE-CELL SUSPENSIONS AND EVIDENCE FOR TUMOR-CELL SPECIFICITY

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (12) , 5262-5264
Abstract
Wilms'' tumors from 7 patients were dissociated by mechanical and enzymatic means; this technique resulted in single-cell suspensions for 5 specimens and a few aggregates for two. By dye exclusion, cell viability ranged from 56-100% (median, 92%). All 7 preparations produced more than 5 colonies/2 .times. 105 cells plated. Forty-three colonies grown from cells of a G-6-P dehydrogenase heterozygote were of the same G-6-P dehydrogenase isoenzyme type as the original tumor, indicating that the assay is specific for tumor cells. The high rate of colony formation is attributed to an improved method of cell preparation (combined mechanical and enzymatic dissociation of tumors) which may be applicable to other primary human tumors assayed in the soft agar system.