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Growth Stimulation of Tissue Culture Cells Derived from Patients with Neuroblastoma¹

Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medicial Center, Durham, North Carolina 27706

When neuroblastoma cells are obtained from bone marrow aspirates or pleural fluid and placed into tissue culture, a characteristic growth pattern is seen. Cells are found attached to the culture vessel walls and in suspension. By serial decanting of cells in the tissue culture media, cultures can be obtained which are actively dividing and remain in suspension without agitation. The growth rate of these cells decreases to barely detectable levels within 2 months after initiation of the cultures. Cell growth can be recovered by addition of mouse salivary gland extract to the cultures. A similar stimulation is found when ascitic fluid from a patient with neuroblastoma is added to the cultures. The cells are capable of degrading norepinephrine-7-³H to metabolites similar to those found with solid neuroblastomas, and the cells contain catechol O-methyl transferase activity at a level comparable to that found in solid neuroblastomas. The stimulatory activity is nondialyzable but is inactivated by heating.

¹ Supported in part by a grant from the United Medical Research Fund of North Carolina.

² Supported by Research Career Development Award 1-KO4-CA-20,487-01 from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, USPHS.

Received 10/24/69. Accepted 6/19/70.