Studies on the organ culture of human tumors.

Abstract

Ninety-one surgical specimens of human tumors were cultivated in organ culture in Eagle's MEM medium supplemented with various sources of protein, and their viability was evaluated histologically after 4, 7, and 11 days of cultivation. There was an over-all viability of 43%, and the viable specimens retained the histologic characteristics of the original tumors. The tumors included 42 gastrointestinal tumors, 19 breast tumors, 21 miscellaneous tumors, and 9 glandular tumors, of which the last group exhibited the best viability in culture. The best protein supplement to the medium was found to be the patient's own serum.