Organ culture of human nervous system tumors.

Tumors of the human nervous system (neuroblastomas, an ependymoma, a medulloblastoma, and a Schwannoma) obtained during surgery have been cultured organotypically by the method of Wolff. The tumors retained characteristic morphology, organization and patterns of behavior in vitro, and one neuroblastoma gave rise to a growing long-term culture. Long-term organotypic culture, where maintenance of tissue organization and growth occur together, is recommended for the study of neoplasms of the nervous system.