The growth of tumors in matrix cultures

Explants of 160 human benign and malignant tumors were cultured on the matrix of human fibrin foam. This fine porous spongy matrix prepared from human fibrinogen is biologically suitable for human tissue cultures without further preparation. Tumor cultures were maintained in the culture from 3 to 21 days. Fifty-five benign tumors preserved the architecture in “mother” fragments but did not proliferate into the matrix. One hundred five malignant tumors showed various degrees of matrix invasion. In the group of 72 gastro-intestinal tract adenocarcinomas the degree of differentiation in biopsy correlated with tumor cell invasion in the matrix culture. The observations suggest that the tumors in matrix cultures express morphologic and biologic characteristics in vitro similar to those in vivo. This method may have potential usefulness in evaluation of tumors in biopsy material as a guide to prognosis and treatment.