Characterization and the clinical application of cultured human pulmonary carcinoma cells.

We had developed a new method for the selective cultivation of cancer cells in short-term. As a result of these improvement in the culture technique, long-term subcultures of cancer cells are possible in about 80% of cases of small cell carcinoma of the lung and nearly 40% of cases of non-small cell carcinoma of the lung. 23 small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cell lines, 48 non-SCLC cell lines and 4 metastatic lung tumor cell lines were established in our institute using the culture method. Fractional culture of cells exhibiting the same growth pattern in primary culture produce several subtype cell lines, which can be used in experimental studies of the heterogeneity of lung cancer and in treatment of patients with lung cancer. Using subcultured cancer cells of the second or third generation, we have developed and have clinically utilized a simple sensitivity test with a Terasaki's microplate for anticancer drugs. In 15 surgical patients with SCLC treated between April 1982 and March 1985, the sensitivity test was used to select optimal anticancer drugs for postoperative chemotherapy. The routine use of the sensitivity test in selecting postoperative chemotherapy definitely improved the 3-year survival rate from 38% to 52%.