CELL AND ORGAN-CULTURE TECHNIQUES APPLIED TO STUDY OF CARCINOMA OF COLON AND RECTUM

Abstract

The value of a number of in vitro systems which were used in the investigation of carcinomas of colon and rectum is considered. Tissue culture cell lines which were established from human and mouse rectal and colon tumors are described. Both mouse and human cells retain ultrastructural features of the tumors of origin; acinus formations, junctional complexes, microvilli with surface glycoprotein strands. Normal colo-rectal epithelium was not established in cell culture but organ cultures of mouse colon, which retain normal ultrastructural features, can be maintained for at least 28 days. The possible origin of non-epithelial cells which appear in cultures from normal colon is discussed. The areas in which the various in vitro systems may be of use are reviewed.