HUMAN TUMOUR CELL LINES ESTABLISHED USING CLONAL AGAR CULTURE

Abstract

Four families of human tumour cell lines--one of uterine, and three of ovarian origin--were established at early passage level from primary biopsy specimens of terminal patients by the propagation of anchorage-independent agar clones in liquid culture. All cell lines exhibited unique and stable characteristics and retained their ability to clone in agar. However, considerable heterogeneity was evident in clonogenic capacity, karyotype, and responsiveness to growth-promoting substances even among progeny of single agar clones isolated from the one biopsy specimen. These cell lines will be made available for further study upon request.